Athletics champs to go ahead at coast

THE regional athletics championship series will take place in Walvis Bay on Saturday despite the absence of the Khomas Region.

Responding to queries made by the Khomas Athletics Region, Athletics Namibia (AN) Secretary-General Elizabeth Kamutuezu said questions raised by Khomas on the funding, accommodation and why the event scheduled for December was changed to November, were purely administrative issues. She said the arrangement of the regional championships had nothing to do with Khomas.According to Kamutuezu, individual athletes from Khomas will participate in the regional championship in their own capacity.The event sponsored by Bank Windhoek will take place at the Kuisebmond Stadium.On Tuesday, Khomas Athletics Region chairman Quinton-Steele Botes said at a media briefing that the event is untimely and his region will not take part.He said the Khomas Region was not in a position to select a team of 20 athletes as they did not have a chance to hold trials.Botes also cited the start of year-end examinations at schools, the University of Namibia and the Polytechnic of Namibia this week.He asked whether electronic devices would be used at the event, as the normal hand-recorded times are unacceptable by international standards.The first leg that was scheduled for Oshakati on October 15 was cancelled a day before the event was to take place.The third leg is scheduled for Oshakati in December and the final event is slated for Windhoek in January next year.The regional championship will be concluded with an AN National Council meeting.-NampaShe said the arrangement of the regional championships had nothing to do with Khomas.According to Kamutuezu, individual athletes from Khomas will participate in the regional championship in their own capacity.The event sponsored by Bank Windhoek will take place at the Kuisebmond Stadium.On Tuesday, Khomas Athletics Region chairman Quinton-Steele Botes said at a media briefing that the event is untimely and his region will not take part.He said the Khomas Region was not in a position to select a team of 20 athletes as they did not have a chance to hold trials.Botes also cited the start of year-end examinations at schools, the University of Namibia and the Polytechnic of Namibia this week.He asked whether electronic devices would be used at the event, as the normal hand-recorded times are unacceptable by international standards.The first leg that was scheduled for Oshakati on October 15 was cancelled a day before the event was to take place.The third leg is scheduled for Oshakati in December and the final event is slated for Windhoek in January next year.The regional championship will be concluded with an AN National Council meeting.-Nampa