Samaria trains at Oshakati

NAMIBIA’S elite athlete Agnes Samaria launched the MTC Development Project for middle-distance runners in Oshakati recently.

The 800-metre Commonwealth bronze medallist announced that only the finest and most talented young athletes from all over the country had been chosen. It is the first time a training camp of this kind has been held in Oshakati.”We have conducted two successful training camps but what makes this one very special is that we have decided to have it here in Oshakati, due to the fact that almost half of the athletes are from this region,” said Samaria.Samaria said she was less fortunate in her athletic career and would like to make it easier for other athletes to develop their talent.”Namibia has seen a lot of young talented boys and girls who have never maximised their potential and its my dream that come the 2012 Olympics, Namibia will have middle-distance runners that can compete against anyone in the world,” said Samaria.At the same event, Mayor of Oshakati Engelbert Atshipara warned the youth about the dangers of sex and alcohol.”Remember, a child in sports is a child out of prison,” said Atshipara.Meanwhile, the first-ever Agnes Samaria MTC Street Mile at Oshakati crowned Christopher Shaanika its overall winner for senior men on Saturday, followed by Frans Hosea and Robert Kaxuxena in second and third place respectively.Shaanika, of the Sunshine Athletics Club at Oshakati, completed the mile in four minutes and 13 seconds.He defeated Reinhold Iita and Simon Shigwedha, two other prominent middle-distance runners.About 70 runners from different regions competed in the race.Beata Naigambo won the senior women’s category and was followed by Selma Shiimi (from Khomas) in second and Anna Nghuhepa third.Naigambo completed the race in five minutes and seven seconds, Shiimi in 05:38 and Nghuhepa in 06:12.They won similar prizes as the senior men.Other category winners were: Johannes Shipopyeni (youth men), Martha Shivolo (youth women), Edward Kauanivi (junior men), Sarti Eshitile (junior women), Tobias Muindia Eliaser (veteran men) and Wilma Shikongo (veteran women).- Additional Reporting by Nampa.It is the first time a training camp of this kind has been held in Oshakati.”We have conducted two successful training camps but what makes this one very special is that we have decided to have it here in Oshakati, due to the fact that almost half of the athletes are from this region,” said Samaria.Samaria said she was less fortunate in her athletic career and would like to make it easier for other athletes to develop their talent.”Namibia has seen a lot of young talented boys and girls who have never maximised their potential and its my dream that come the 2012 Olympics, Namibia will have middle-distance runners that can compete against anyone in the world,” said Samaria.At the same event, Mayor of Oshakati Engelbert Atshipara warned the youth about the dangers of sex and alcohol.”Remember, a child in sports is a child out of prison,” said Atshipara.Meanwhile, the first-ever Agnes Samaria MTC Street Mile at Oshakati crowned Christopher Shaanika its overall winner for senior men on Saturday, followed by Frans Hosea and Robert Kaxuxena in second and third place respectively.Shaanika, of the Sunshine Athletics Club at Oshakati, completed the mile in four minutes and 13 seconds.He defeated Reinhold Iita and Simon Shigwedha, two other prominent middle-distance runners.About 70 runners from different regions competed in the race.Beata Naigambo won the senior women’s category and was followed by Selma Shiimi (from Khomas) in second and Anna Nghuhepa third.Naigambo completed the race in five minutes and seven seconds, Shiimi in 05:38 and Nghuhepa in 06:12.They won similar prizes as the senior men.Other category winners were: Johannes Shipopyeni (youth men), Martha Shivolo (youth women), Edward Kauanivi (junior men), Sarti Eshitile (junior women), Tobias Muindia Eliaser (veteran men) and Wilma Shikongo (veteran women).- Additional Reporting by Nampa.