Swakopmund will host the first leg of the 10-leg Coca-Cola Athletics Namibia (AN) Grand Prix on 15 January, with top sprinters Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma scheduled to compete in the 100m dash.

Their coach Henk Botha confirmed this to New Era Sport yesterday, adding: “I’m so happy to be back and do what we love doing, and that’s being here on the field. We are looking forward to the new season of athletics”. 

The girls will compete in the100m for the first time since they sprinted into Namibian and world record books with excellent performances and times in the 200m. Mboma won silver at the Tokyo Olympics, while Masilingi ended sixth overall in that race. Mboma went on to win the Diamond League trophy.

Both girls are unable to compete in their preferred 400m up to a mile events due to controversial rules over their alleged elevated natural testosterone levels. 

Also speaking to New Era Sport yesterday, AN secretary general Martha Emvula said registration will be open today, and all top athletes from across the country, including athletes with disabilities, are invited to showcase their talents at the event. 

“We are expecting a huge turnout after a long layoff. We are looking forward to see the new talent that will be unearthed at the event,” she added.

Emvula noted that this event will be instrumental to athletes who want to qualify for big competitions this year such as the Athletics World Championships in Oregon, USA and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. 

However, only 200 athletes will be allowed to compete to align with the current Covid restrictions in place.

The rest of the legs:

Second and third - Windhoek on 22 January and 5 February

Fourth - Rietfontein on 19 February

Fifth - Oshakati on 5 March

Sixth - Venue still to be announced but the date is 16 March

Seventh - Mariental on 28 May

Eighth – Gobabis on 18 June

Ninth – Rundu on 30 July

Tenth - Outapi on 13 August

– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na