Athletics starts with Khomas Welcome Champs 

The first athletics event of the year, the Khomas Welcome Championships, took place on Saturday at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium. 

With a full calendar of local and international events to look forward to, most of Namibia’s top athletes were in action, but the performances were largely average, judging by the athletes’ times. 

The men’s sprints were keenly contested, with 12 athletes competing in two heats in the 100m and 22 competing in four heats in the 200m. 

In the 100m, Sherman du Plessis of Quinton Steele Botes Athletics Club (QSBAC) won gold in 10,99 seconds, followed by team mates Mohamunika Ndura (11,01) and Funa Madi (11,05), while Elton Hoeseb of QSBAC won the 200m in 21,43, followed by Mahmad Bock of Namibia Correctional Service (21,70) and Vetondouua Tjihumino of Unam AC (21,76). 

Hoeseb collected a second gold medal after winning the 400m in 48,31, followed by Charley Matundu of Unam AC in 49,22 and William van Wyk of Unam AC in 50,39.

Nasimane Shigwedha of Unam AC won the 800m in 2:01,49, followed by Lesley Kahono of Namibia Defence Force (2:04,58) and Ronny Elago of Karibib AC (2:05,03), while Asser Nalukaku of NCS won the 1 500m in a hand time of 4:04,6, followed by Elago (4:25,5) and Johannes Sheya of Otjinene AC (4:33,4). 

Mathias Simon of NCS won the 5 000m in 15:08,59, followed by Shigwedha (16:03,82) and David Damm of NCS in 16:13,62. 

Karsten Diergaardt of QSBAC won the men’s high jump with a height of 2,00m, followed by Benjamin Hendrickse of Athletics Development Club and Haleluja Kawlingi of QSBAC, who both cleared 1,95m, while Ferdinand Gabriel, who was the only entrant in the long jump won with a distance of 5,35m.

Tapiwa Musekiwa of Ongwediva Run Along MultiD Sport Club collected three medals in the men’s throwing events.

He won the shot put in 10,10m, followed by Gift Rusaere of Otjinene AC (9,37m); he won gold in the discus in 25,80m, with Rusaere second in 24,58m; while he won the javelin throw in 38,53m, with Rusaere once again second in 30,52m. 

In the women’s sprints, Napuumue Hengari of Unam AC won the 100m in 12,94, followed by Kumbee Mbai of QSBAC (13,12) and Sarafina Kakundi of Otjinene AC (14,13).

Namibian triple jump champion Frieda Iithete of NCS gave a fine performance to win the women’s 200m in 25,45, edging Hengari (25,71) and Perpetua Simaata of QSBAC (25,83) to the line. 

Namibian 100m and 200m champion Jade Nangula of Unam AC, also emerged victorious in a different event, as she won the 400m in 56,01, finishing marginally outside her personal best of 59,88, while Simaata came second in 59,06 and Kazaatjo Kambiri of Otjinene AC third in 59,77. 

The middle and long distance events saw poor turnouts with the 800m winner Paulina Jakonga of Otjinene AC (2:34.51) and the 5 000m winner Selma Simon of Visa AC (21:40.00) having no competition, while the 1 500m only had two entrants with Tuuliki Angala of NCS (4:44.30) finishing well ahead of Simon (8:31,30). 

Hitjivirwe Hoveka of Otjinene AC won two gold medals in the women’s jumps – she was the only entrant in the long jump, winning with a leap of 4,70m, while she won the triple jump with a distance of 10,39m, followed by Angelina Johannes of IronPulse AC (8,97m).

The women’s discus saw a fine battle between QSBAC team mates Elizabeth van Rensburg and Karlien Botha, with Van Rensburg taking gold in 38,67m and Botha silver in 34,35m. 

The men’s 100m saw a fine turnout with 12 athletes competing over two heats. 

QSBAC was the most successful club with a total of 136 points, followed by Unam AC (95) and Otjinene AC (86), while a total of 10 clubs competed at the event. 

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