The Khomas region on Saturday dominated proceedings at the Athletics Namibia (AN) National Senior Championship held at the Independence Stadium in the capital, which saw the region’s athletes emerging head and shoulders above the rest.
The weekend’s event saw close to 300 athletes from 10 clubs from across the country competing, which brought together Namibia’s foremost young and experienced athletes to fight for national glory.
Most athletes also used the competitive to try and clock the 2022 Commonwealth Games’ qualifying times, which are traditionally between 10.10 seconds to 10.18 seconds for the men’s 100m, and 11.15 seconds to 11.32 seconds for the women’s 100m event, while it is 20.50 for the men’s 200m and 23.00 for the women. The benchmark is 45.70 for the men’s 400m, and 51.60 for the women in the 400m.
At Saturday’s meet, Khomas took the lead with a commendable 693 points, followed in second place by the Hardap region with 148.5 points, while Ohangwena claimed third place with 112 points.
The Erongo region managed to amass 74 points to take fourth position, while the Namibia Paralympics Committee (NPC) settled for fifth position with 33 points.
In the women’s 5000m event, Alina Armas of Khomas came first with a time of 17.28 seconds, while Tresia Kakede of Ohangwena finished second with a time of 18.10 seconds. Elizabeth Kalola from Ohangwena clocked 18.26 seconds to take third place.
Meanwhile, the men’s 5000m also saw Khomas dominating when it took all three top places after Daniel Paulus claimed first place with his time of 14.21 seconds, closely followed by Paulus Simon in 14.23 seconds and Wilhelm Hangula in third place with a time of 14.43 seconds.
In the women’s 400m, Innocentia Haingura from Kavango East took top spot with her time of 57.49 seconds and was followed by Dolphine Kapere of the Khomas region in second place with 59.05 seconds, while Oshana region’s Tuuliki Angala claimed third position in a time of 59.45 seconds.
The Khomas region was again in the thick of things when it took all three top places in the men’s 400m, Danny Geldenhuys coming first with a time of 46.27 seconds, followed by Andre Retief in second place with 46.95 seconds and Mahmad Bock in third place with a time of 47.73 seconds.
The women’s 100m was won by Khomas region’s Johanna Ludgerus in 12.17 seconds, closely followed by Cariene Oosthuizen from the Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU) with her time of 12.20 seconds, while Hanganeni Fikunawa of Khomas finished third in 12.38 seconds.
Speaking to New Era Sport after Saturday’s championship, AN president Erwin Naimhwaka said he was pleased with the turnout of the clubs, and that it was very encouraging to see how athletes are eager to compete and make a mark for themselves.
“Yes, I’m happy with the event overall, especially the turnout of the regions. It was also encouraging to see the growing number of young athletes who participated and continue to participate. This is great to see,” he added.
– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na