Sparks to fly at Frank’s meet

THE 10th Frank Fredericks Invitational Athletics Meet is bound to produce exceptional performances from the country’s top junior athletes at the Independence Stadium this evening.

The one-day competition starts at 17h00 today. Namibia Beverages, through its Coca Cola brand, this year sponsored the event to the tune of N$150 000 with exciting prizes in store for the various winners.The event was started ten years ago to give the best juniors in the country the opportunity to gain competitive experience.Namibia’s most prolific track athlete Frank Fredericks took the initiative with athletics coach Quinton-Steele Botes to start the event and their first sponsorship was N$30 000 from the soft-drink manufacturer.There will be sizzling competition in the 100-metre and the 200-metre races for boys and girls.In the girls’ race, favourite Keshia Kalomo will be pitted against her main rival Marilyn Daimond over both sprinting distances.Both athletes gave exceptional performances at last weekend’s Coca-Cola National Schools’ Athletics Championships, when Kalomo was named the senior Victrix Ludorum after winning gold in both the 100m and 200m.Kalomo also competes in the long jump and is the favourite to walk away with the title, but unknown competitors from the regions might give her a run for her money.Daimond improved her record in the 100m twice in the under-15 age category, first by clocking 12,65 seconds in her heat, and then recording 12,62 seconds in the final race.In the boys’ 100m event, Andre Nel from the Khomas region will go in as the favourite after he made a good impression at last week’s race by scooping gold medals in the 100m and 200m races to give him the senior Victor Ludorum title.In other events, Mara-Lee Doeses from Khomas and Salti Eshitile from Omaheke are expected to give each other competition in the 800-metre race, but there are other dark horses such as Teresa Alugodhi from Oshana and Kristofine Ruben from Oshikoto who might come into the equation.In the boys’ 400m hurdles race, Horatius Abrahams has a chance to clinch the title after setting a new national under-19 record in that race.He clocked 55,06 seconds.Abrahams also competes in the flat 400m race and his chances are good there too.The tall Salomo Tuaire will stand out among his peers when he takes on both the high and the long jump today.He has been one of the most consistent jumpers to date and this meeting will make him go even higher and further due to its high-profile nature.Overall, good performances are expected from the Namibian athletes, and some top South Africans are also expected to compete.This year, three athletes who competed at the German and European championships will be in action, while out of the top 32 schools from South Africa, the top 10 boys and girls from the super-16 will compete against the Namibians.There will be at least 200 athletes competing in the respective disciplines in what is expected to be a night of new records, while plenty of talent will be on display.The sponsorship includes medals for the winners, transport for athletes from the various regions to Windhoek as well as accommodation, food and scholarships.The event selects eight top juniors under 19 years of age in each category of track and field.The categories will include 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1 500m, 3 000m, 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, long jump, high jump, triple jump, shot put, discus and javelin.The organisers have appealed to the public to attend the event and support Namibia’s up-and-coming young athletes.Namibia Beverages, through its Coca Cola brand, this year sponsored the event to the tune of N$150 000 with exciting prizes in store for the various winners.The event was started ten years ago to give the best juniors in the country the opportunity to gain competitive experience.Namibia’s most prolific track athlete Frank Fredericks took the initiative with athletics coach Quinton-Steele Botes to start the event and their first sponsorship was N$30 000 from the soft-drink manufacturer.There will be sizzling competition in the 100-metre and the 200-metre races for boys and girls.In the girls’ race, favourite Keshia Kalomo will be pitted against her main rival Marilyn Daimond over both sprinting distances.Both athletes gave exceptional performances at last weekend’s Coca-Cola National Schools’ Athletics Championships, when Kalomo was named the senior Victrix Ludorum after winning gold in both the 100m and 200m.Kalomo also competes in the long jump and is the favourite to walk away with the title, but unknown competitors from the regions might give her a run for her money.Daimond improved her record in the 100m twice in the under-15 age category, first by clocking 12,65 seconds in her heat, and then recording 12,62 seconds in the final race.In the boys’ 100m event, Andre Nel from the Khomas region will go in as the favourite after he made a good impression at last week’s race by scooping gold medals in the 100m and 200m races to give him the senior Victor Ludorum title.In other events, Mara-Lee Doeses from Khomas and Salti Eshitile from Omaheke are expected to give each other competition in the 800-metre race, but there are other dark horses such as Teresa Alugodhi from Oshana and Kristofine Ruben from Oshikoto who might come into the equation.In the boys’ 400m hurdles race, Horatius Abrahams has a chance to clinch the title after setting a new national under-19 record in that race.He clocked 55,06 seconds.Abrahams also competes in the flat 400m race and his chances are good there too.The tall Salomo Tuaire will stand out among his peers when he takes on both the high and the long jump today.He has been one of the most consistent jumpers to date and this meeting will make him go even higher and further due to its high-profile nature.Overall, good performances are expected from the Namibian athletes, and some top South Africans are also expected to compete.This year, three athletes who competed at the German and European championships will be in action, while out of the top 32 schools from South Africa, the top 10 boys and girls from the super-16 will compete against the Namibians.There will be at least 200 athletes competing in the respective disciplines in what is expected to be a night of new records, while plenty of talent will be on display.The sponsorship includes medals for the winners, transport for athletes from the various regions to Windhoek as well as accommodation, food and scholarships.The event selects eight top juniors under 19 years of age in each category of track and field.The categories will include 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1 500m, 3 000m, 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, long jump, high jump, triple jump, shot put, discus and javelin.The organisers have appealed to the public to attend the event and support Namibia’s up-and-coming young athletes.