Two new Botha prodigies make breakthroughs
Athletics
Elton Hoeseb and Coenraad Kühn announced themselves as ones to watch.
Coenraad Kühn, shot put athlete of QSB Athletics Club, delivered one of the highlights of Athletics Namibia’s second Grand Prix of 2024 on Saturday.The 20-year-old succeeded in equalling the oldest existing Namibian national outdoor athletics record, that has been standing for close to 55 years.
Derrek Wiggill’s mark of 17.10 metres (set in Bloemfontein on 19 April, 1969) had not been challenged in half a century, until Kühn equalled the distance at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday.
Kühn, a former Moria student from Outjo but currently working in Windhoek, is mentored by renowned Namibian coach Henk Botha, who has previously been a driving force behind the success of 2021 Olympic finalist Beatrice Masilingi and Olympic silver medallist Christine Mboma.
HOESEB BEATS TWO CHAMPIONS
Another of Botha’s “secret weapons” that burst on the scene in spectacular fashion was Elton Hoeseb.
Hoeseb (QSB) delivered a great kick over the last 100 of the men’s 400 metres to beat both the favourites and former national champions Mahmad Bock (NCS) and Ivan Danny Geldenhuys (QSB).
Hoeseb’s winning time (46.52) is a significant improvement of his personal best, while his confidence will for sure be boosted after beating Bock (47.10), the national record holder since 2022, and Geldenhuys (47.24) who both competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
SPRINT KING AND QUEEN
Ndawana Haitembu, of Golden Cheetah, ran to wins in both the women’s 100 and 200.
Both the second places behind Haitembu (11.91 and 23.97) went to Unam’s Jade Nangula (12.30 and 24.64).
In the men’s sprints, Gilbert Hainuca (Nust Welwitschia-77) also achieved the double, in winning times of 10.43 and 20.95. In both items he finished ahead of Elvis Gaseb (10.63) and Hatago Murere (21.29).
• Anana Samuntu won the men’s high jump at 2.05 metres, ahead of Wencuslaus Klaasman (2.00) and Benjamin Hendrikse (2.00).
• Lionel Coetzee (Swakop Striders) won the men’s long jump (8.06).
• David Dam’s winning time in the 800 m was 1:50.46 as the NCS team took the first four spots.