All-action weekend at NSSU athletics
Athletics
The best available talent from all over the country will be on display at the Namibian School Sports Union (NSSU)’s national championship in track and field athletics.Friday’s programme starts from 15:00 until 20:00 and continues on Saturday from 08:00 until 17:30.
Boys and girls in the age groups under 13, U15, U17 and U19 will put their best foor forward to deliver a show for spectators and to also reach the standards to be considered for possible inclusion in upcoming touring opportunities outside of Namibia.
An initially placed NSSU restriction that each region only be represented by a maximum of fifty athletes had raised some concern among schools administrators, but was later relaxed.
By yesterday’s entry list, Khomas region will field a team of 70 athletes – weighing up against competitors from ||Kharas (49), Erongo (56), Hardap (54), Kavango East (34), Kavango West (30), Kunene (37), Ohangwena (43), Omaheke (51), Omusati (47), Oshana (48), Oshikoto (42), Otjozondjupa (50) and Zambezi (38).
The restriction still means that for instance some of Khomas’ top medal contenders did not make the team, despite better results this season than anyone in their age group.
ONES TO WATCH
From the south of the country, Driaan Smit is one to watch in the boys shot put, while Khomas’ shot put hopes could be placed on Heinrich Geldenhuys.
The Khomas regional team also includes prospects such as AJ Oberholzer (110 hurdles and 400 hurdles, U19), Monica Steenkamp (400 metres, U19), Ajay Bock (long jump, U19), Waldre Kotze (discus throw U19), Zack von Wielligh (110 hurdles and 400 hurdles, U17) and Nicholis du Plessis (400 hurdles, U19), to mention just a few.
The pride of the Erongo team includes the high jump girls coached by Hennie Horn at Swakopmund. Chrislene Klein, who won the senior national women’s title two weekends ago when she achieved a personal best 1.73 metres for the gold, will not be eligible to compete because she turns 20 this year.
Her team mate Adara Gey von Pittius, second-best at the senior national champinship (1.60) has a personal best of 1.66 metres.
The boys high jump items also feature the country’s current top two at senior level. Karsten Diergaardt (U19) and Josia Katroli (U17) are both in the Khomas team for this weekend, having reached 2.00 metres two weekends ago and Diergaardt taking the gold on the countback tie-break.
CONFLICTING COMMITMENTS
Unfortunately, administrators seemed unable to avoid the clash of dates, with the Namibia Secondary Schools Rugby also presenting their national trails for under 16 and under 18 boys this weekend, with the aim of selecting the prestigeous teams for the annual U16 Grant Khomo and U18 Academy Week tours to South Africa.
A number of boys will thus be forced into the choice of missing out on the opportunity in either one of these sports codes – a situation which is surely not ideal and which should be avoided in the future.