National schools’ athletics championships in city

MORE than 800 athletes are expected to take part in the annual Coca-Cola National Athletics Championships at the Independence Stadium tomorrow and Saturday.

The event, organised by the Namibia School Sport Union (NSSU), will see primary- and secondary-school athletes from all 14 education regions competing in track-and-field events. The age categories are under-13, -15, -17 and -19.Sport Minister John Mutorwa will officially open the event on Saturday morning.The first event of the championships will start at 15h00 on Friday.Main sponsor Coca-Cola handed over N$35 000 to the organisers at the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) offices on Tuesday.Meanwhile, all under-17 athletes will be vying for a place on the team to represent Namibia at the Confederation of Southern African Schools Sports Associations (COSASSA) athletics championships in Swaziland from May 3 to 8.The national championships will also be used to select the best juniors for the Under-20 Youth Games set for Windhoek in June/July this year.Another round of trials will take place at the Independence Stadium on April 8 to select non-school-going under-19 athletes for the COSSASA championships.Other upcoming international athletics competitions include the Southern African Junior Championships billed for Madagascar on May 12 and 13, while the Junior Championships will take place in Seychelles in July.The World Youth Championships are scheduled for Beijing, China in August later this year.-NampaThe age categories are under-13, -15, -17 and -19.Sport Minister John Mutorwa will officially open the event on Saturday morning.The first event of the championships will start at 15h00 on Friday.Main sponsor Coca-Cola handed over N$35 000 to the organisers at the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) offices on Tuesday.Meanwhile, all under-17 athletes will be vying for a place on the team to represent Namibia at the Confederation of Southern African Schools Sports Associations (COSASSA) athletics championships in Swaziland from May 3 to 8.The national championships will also be used to select the best juniors for the Under-20 Youth Games set for Windhoek in June/July this year.Another round of trials will take place at the Independence Stadium on April 8 to select non-school-going under-19 athletes for the COSSASA championships.Other upcoming international athletics competitions include the Southern African Junior Championships billed for Madagascar on May 12 and 13, while the Junior Championships will take place in Seychelles in July.The World Youth Championships are scheduled for Beijing, China in August later this year.-Nampa