By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK
Namibia finished third overall at the just-concluded Confederation of School Sports Associations of Southern African Associations (COSSASA) Athletic Championship in Germiston, near Johannesburg, South Africa.
Namibia took the podium in 3rd place behind hosts and overall winners South Africa and 2nd placed Botswana in the six-nation athletics competition.
Lesotho were placed 4th with neighbours Swaziland adrift in 5th place, while Zambia had to be content with the wooden spoon.
Michelle Pretorius was without doubt the touring entourage’s best performer with a silver medal in the girls’ high jump, with a commendable jump of 1.65 metres, while compatriot Danica Burmeister returned the honours with a 3rd place finish in the same discipline with a jump of 1.55 metres.
Sprint sensation Merlyn Daimond was Namibia’s most outstanding athlete during the competition with a bronze medal in the 400 metres (59.52 sec) and two 4th places in the 100 (12.40 sec) and 200 metres (25.10 sec) sprint respectively.
There were also bronze medals from Elizna Theron, Elfi Potgieter, Alberto Mouton, Strydom van der Wath and hurdler Cassie Muujo, while the Namibian Girls Relay team ended 2nd and 3rd in the 4×100 and 4×400 metres respectively, to add to Namibia’s tally of 10 medals.