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Athletics Namibia held a Special Congress yesterday 29 February 2020 at the Arebbusch Travel Lodge, which elected a new leadership to lead the federation until 2024. The Special Congress was convened following a resolution of the Annual Congress on the 16th November 2019, where the Constitution was amended to make Athletics Namibia leadership structure leaner. The streamlined structure is intended to make Athletics Namibia more efficient and focused on the core activities of athletics. They represent the necessary continuous introspection necessary by any organisation to remain relevant and effective in their environment and circumstances they find themselves. The new leadership is as below: President – Mr Erwin Naimhwaka (retained); Vice President – Mr Leon Nienaber (new); Secretary General – Ms Madeleine Kotze (retained); Finance Secretary – Ms Leorine Waggie (retained); Track & Field Secretary – Mr Bethold Karumendu (new); Road Running Secretary – Mr Robert Kaxuxuena (retained); Cross Country and Mountain Running Secretary – Mr Remigius Iiyambo (new); Officials Secretary – Ms Corlia Maritz (new); Coaching Secretary – Mr Louis Cloete (retained); Selection Secretary – Mr Modestus Mwiila (retained); Publicity Secretary – Mr Edward Kapewasha (new); Medical and Anti Doping Secretary – Mr Charlton Rickerts (retained). They will be joined by Mr Basilius Karupu, the Athletes Representative.

Despite rainy conditions athletes from across Namibia turned up to try and compete their way up the Athletics Namibia rankings. Once more the Otjiwarongo leg of the series proved its popularity with spectators turning up in large numbers to enjoy the actions that were on offer. The athletes did not disappoint, with Mahmad Bock of the University of Namibia Athletics Club dominating the winning the 100m and 200m sprints, while Paralympic athlete Lahjia Eshitile of the Namib Lions Athletics Club showed her mantle against the senior women by winning the 100m sprint. The next leg will be on the 07 March 2020 in Swakopmund. For the results: https://athletics-namibia.com.na/?page_id=1199&mdocs-cat=mdocs-cat-10&mdocs-att=mdocs-cat-3

Alina Armas (NDF AC) and Kefas Kondjashili (NAMPOL AC) won the senior women and senior men 10km races at the Okahandja Horse Racing Turf on Saturday 01 February 2020, respectively. Both races were hotly contested with the two emerging victorious after grueling duels. Alina caused an upset by causing the race favourite Lavinia Haitope of the NAMPOL AC to retire in the last round of the 2km loop race course. Kefas was pushed to the wire by Thomas Shigwedha of the Namibia Correctional Services AC. Results available at: https://athletics-namibia.com.na/?page_id=1199&mdocs-cat=mdocs-cat-13&mdocs-att=mdocs-cat-3

Helalia Johannes set a new Namibian record in the Half Marathon at the Kagawa International Half Marathon. Helalia who is the only Olympic qualifier so far for Namibia clocked 1 hour, 8 minutes and 10 second at the international half marathon on the 02 February 2020 in Kagawa, Japan.

After the first competition of the season Mahmad Alexander Bock of the University of Namibia Athletics Club is at the summit of the men’s rankings with his performance in the 200 meters. The top three performances are all from the 200 meters with Sandro Diergaardt and Ernst Narib in second and third respectively. Rankings available here: https://athletics-namibia.com.na/?page_id=1199&mdocs-cat=mdocs-cat-7&mdocs-att=mdocs-cat-3

Beatrixe Masilingi and Mbonga Christine ran qualifying times at the AN first competition of the season in the 200 and 400 meters and 400 meters, respectively. Their performances places them at the top of the women’s rankings after the first competition. Beatrice posted a time of 24.05 seconds in the 200 meters and 54.10 seconds in the 400 meters, while Christine posted a time of 54.80 seconds in the 400 meters. With these performances, they booked themselves their tickets for Nairobi, where the World Under 20 Championships will take place during July 2020.

Spectators at the newly built athletics track at the Rietfontein National Youth Service Centre were treated to good duels in various events. Beatrice Masilingi showed good form in the first competition of the season. Other early pace setters were Jesse Uri-khob and Mahmad Bock in the 100 and 200 meters respectively. Results are available here: https://athletics-namibia.com.na/?page_id=1199&mdocs-cat=mdocs-cat-10&mdocs-att=mdocs-cat-3

The first Athletics Namibia competition for the season takes place at Rientfontein near Grootfontein in the Otjozondjupa Region. Athletes will have a feel of the new 6 lane track at Rietfontein and get a feel of how their preparations for the season are progressing. The competition at Rietfontein is the first leg of the Annual Coca Cola Regional Club Challenge Series, which is part of the Athletics Namibia Ranking Series. A lot is at stake as performances at the competition will be eligible for the Athletics Namibia rankings series, where at the end of the season athletes’ performances will be ranked using the World Athletics Scoring Tables scores. The top ten men and top ten women will each share a grand price of N$50 000, which makes a total grand prizes of N$100 000 up for grabs at the end of the series. Each category prizes will be awarded as follows: Ranking Prize 1 N$15 000 2 N$10 000 3 N$ 6 000 4 N$ 5 000 5 N$ 4 000 6 N$ 3 000 7 N$ 2500 8 N$ 2 000 9 N$ 1 500 10 N$ 1 000 Total N$50 000 Following the success of the Regional Club Challenge and ranking series during 2019, Athletics Namibia has expanded the ranking competition series in terms of events and prizes. The events will be expanded to include road races and our national championships. The rankings will also be separated between female and male athletes. The prize money has been doubled and cascaded to award more to higher performers and make the series even more competitive. Any other competitions can be part of the ranking series and organizers of athletics competitions interested to have their competitions be part of the ranking series can apply to Athletics Namibia. The program will start at 09h00. Athletics Namibia wishes the athletics family a successful and wonderful athletics season!

Helalia Johannes’ bronze medal in the women marathon has ensured that Namibia was among medal winners at the global athletics events. Namibia was represented by two athletes, with Thomas Rainhold ending a respectable 17th in the men’s marathon. The athletes were accompanied by coach Robert Kaxuxuena, who coaches the two athletes. Athletics Namibia extends its congratulations to the team.

Athletics Namibia facilitated an Athletics Namibia Basic Coaching Course for private primary schools in Windhoek on the 27 September 2019. Eleven teachers from private primary schools in Windhoek were taken through the course by Mr Gottfried Tsowaseb and Ms Barbara Fernandez. The course focused on Kid’s Athletics and Throws. The training took place at the Christ Love Primary School in Dorado.