NAMIBIAN athletes failed to win a medal at the African Athletics Championships which was held in Asaba, Nigeria last week.
In the men’s triple jump Roger Haitengi came seventh overall with a distance of 16,11 metres. Hugues Zango of Burundi won the gold medal with a distance of 17,11m, while Godfrey Mokoena of South Africa came second (16,83m) and Yasser Triki of Algeria third (16,78m).
Gilbert Hainuca qualified for the men’s 100m final where he came seventh in a time of 10,49 seconds. Akani Simbine of South Africa won the gold medal in 10,25 seconds, while Gueu Cisse of the Ivory Coast came second in 10,33 and Simon Magakwe of South Africa third in 10,35.
In the men’s 400m, Ernst Narib and Mahmad Bock failed to make the final.
Narib came fifth in his heat in a time of 47,11 seconds, while Bock came eighth in his heat in a time of 48,02. Narib’s time was the 12th fastest overall and Bock the 21st fastest out of 22 athletes who completed the heats.
Baboloki Thebe of Botswana won the final in a time of 44,81, while Thapelo Phora of South Africa came second in 45,14 and Chidi Okezie of Nigeria third in 45,65.
In the men’s 400m hurdles Hardus Maritz failed to reach the final after coming fifth in his heat in a time of 51,60 seconds. Abdelmalik Lahoulou of Algeria won the final in a new championship record of 48,47 seconds, while Cornel Fredericks of South Africa came second in 49,40 and Zied Azizi of Tunisia third in 49,48.
Namibia’s men’s relay team of Ernst Narib, Even Tjiviju, Mahmad Bock and Hardus Maritz came eighth in the 4x400m relay in a time of 3:11,53.
In the process they broke the Namibian national record of 3:11,60 that had stood for 20 years.
Kenya won the gold medal in a new championship record of 3:00,92, while South Africa came second in 3:03,50 and Nigeria third in 3:04,88.
Kenya was the most successful nation at the championships winning 11 gold, six silver and two bronze medals for a total of 19 medals.
South Africa came second with nine gold, 13 silver and eight bronze medals, while Nigeria came third with nine gold, five silver and one bronze medal.
Botswana also excelled by coming fourth overall with two gold and one silver medal.
The president of Athletics Namibia, Erwin Naimwaka said he was satisfied with Namibia’s performances.
“I am satisfied with the performance of our team. Most of the athletes made it to the semifinals, while two made it to the finals. The 4x400m relay team also set a new national record and broke a record that had stood for 20 years,” he said.
