Athletes gain invaluable experience at Bahrain's 2024 ISF Gymnasiade
Athletics
This year's under-18 team left Bahrain with hard-earned lessons and invaluable experience.
Twelve of Namibia’s top young athletes recently wrapped up their participation at the International School Sport Federation (ISF) Gymnasiade in Manama, Bahrain.Competing in the under-18 category in track and field events against athletes from around the world, they faced some tough competition but gained valuable experience for future events.
Although the athletes couldn’t replicate the stellar success of last year’s ISF U15 Gymnasiade in Rio, Brazil, they demonstrated resilience in their performance.
In Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, Alexandra Scheepers, known as the country’s “Springs” from Windhoek Gymnasium, made history by securing the country’s first gold medal in high jump with a personal best of 1.67 metres – a record she later surpassed at South Africa’s Curro Podium athletic series this year.
Pro-Ed Academy’s Lodewikus Viljoen also shone last year, achieving a personal best of 13.10 metres in the shot put. This year, Viljoen showcased strength and determination in Bahrain, taking on a strong 46.41-metre-throw in the discus final to secure seventh place out of 12 competitors. In shot put, he reached a final distance of 14.50 metres, placing him in tenth position.
Angra Pequena Senior Secondary School’s Liezel Munyaza impressed by reaching the 100-metre semifinals, where she narrowly missed the finals with a swift time of 12.71 seconds. This year, Munyaza showed her speed in the 100-metre heats with a time of 12.86 seconds, although she faced tough competition and didn’t progress to the finals.
Kavango East’s Lazarus Manyima, who did not compete this year, was also a member of last year’s team, where he demonstrated determination by finishing fifth in his 800-metre heat.
Competition debutants
Debutants on this year’s team were homeschooled Buhlem Oelefson, who competed in shot put and discus. Oelefson started with a qualifying throw of 45.02m in discus but later fell short in the finals, placing ninth with a 41.32m throw. He also made it to the shot put finals and achieved 14.62m to secure a tenth-pace finish.
Windhoek High School’s Martin Nghililewanga started well in the boys’ 100m, clocking 11.13 seconds but was edged out, missing out on the semifinal spot. In 200m, Nghililewanga qualified for the semifinals with a time of 22.42 seconds but also missed out on the podium spot, finishing with 22.83 seconds.
Ombathi Combined School’s Diana Kosmos showcased determination in the girls’ 800m, securing third place in her heat with a time of 2 minutes 18 seconds and 78 milliseconds. Kosmos also competed in the girls’ 400m, achieving a competitive 1:01.44 and ranking third in her heat.
Etemba Combined School’s Leena Ekandjo competed in the girls’ 800m, clocking in at 2:25.16 to take third place in her heat.
Gustav Kandjii High School’s Kambiri Kazatjo competed in both the girls’ 400m and 200m. Kazatjo completed the 400m in 1:01.44, placing fifth in her heat, and finished the 200m in 26.55 seconds, also ranking fifth.
WAP’s Etienne Lombaard competed in the boys’ 110m hurdles and clocked a time of 14.86 seconds, getting fifth place in his heat. In the 400m hurdles, Lombaard finished with a time of 1:04.14.
Other athletes who faced stiff competition and exited in the first round included Delano Apollus from St. Theresa Secondary School in the 800m, William van Wyk from M&K Gertze High School in the 400m and Hailulu Linda from Okahenge Combined School, who competed in both the 800m and 1500m.
The bigger picture
Reflecting on the competition, team coach Liebhadt Mogohtsi praised the athletes’ dedication, noting that although they didn’t secure medals as they did last year, their performances demonstrate a promising trajectory for the future.
Regarding his recommendations for better results in future, he said team camps are paramount to improve performance, further suggesting that specialised coaches for each event should work with athletes to refine their techniques.
He further emphasised the need for corporate sponsorships to support sports initiatives and consistent training beyond just pre-competition periods.
Mogotsi also called for physical education (PE) teachers and clubs to teach essential skills, like using starting blocks, to better prepare athletes for future competitions.
“Some of our athletes at this level still don’t know how to use starting blocks or properly warm up. For example, at the national level, a soccer coach wouldn’t need to teach players how to kick a ball – that’s something they should already know,” he noted.
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