• athletics

Star-studded street event will make Windhoek shine

• 14 Hours Ago

Windhoek is preparing to make sporting history with the hosting of a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze street meeting – an unprecedented international athletics event set to take place in the heart of the city on 27 and 28 March.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Namibian athletics coach Henk Botha revealed some of the plans for what promises to be one of the biggest track and field spectacles Southern Africa has ever seen, bringing a string of high-profile world-class athletes to compete on a purpose-built track constructed along Robert Mugabe Avenue, with the city’s iconic Christuskirche and Independence Memorial Museum as a backdrop.

Invitations have been extended to the likes of Armand “Mondo” Duplantis – multiple World Athletics Athlete of the Year (2025, 2023 and 2022) and world record holder in pole vault at 6.30 metres. The 26-year-old Swedish legend is also a two-time Olympic champion (2020 and 2024) and a three-time World outdoor (2022, 2023 and 2025) title holder.

Sam Kendricks, 33, of USA will be another former world champion pole vaulter (2017 and 2019) boasting Olympic medals (2016 bronze and 2024 silver).

USA’s Sandi Morris is among the listed invitees for women’s pole vault. With silver medals at the 2016 Olympics, as well as the 2017 and 2019 World Championships, the 33-year-old will bring a lot of international class and experience – and a personal best of 5.00 metres in Brussels in 2019.

“We are reintroducing pole vault to Namibia,” Botha said. “Last year we held a clinic for young athletes, and now we’re bringing it back properly.

“Pole vault is something special. We’ll probably see men jumping close to six metres and women near five metres.”

Botha confirmed that Namibia will also be represented in most events, including by the female pole vaulter Talaya Vorster, living in New Zealand, who will return home to compete. Talaya’s mother Michelle represented Namibia as a mountain biker at the 2016 and 2021 Olympic Games.

 

Shot put record attempt

America’s Joe Kovacs is currently the number one ranked shot put athlete in the world and has stated his intention of coming to Windhoek to break the world record.

Kovacs, 36, has a personal record of 23.23 meters outdoors – the second-best of all time behind his countryman Ryan Crouser. Kovacs has won gold medals at the 2015 and 2019 World Championships, and silver medals at the last three Olympic Games (2016, 2020 and 2024).

Furthermore, a field of entries worthy of an Olympic men’s shot put final is envisioned by the organisers – including Tom Walsh (33, New Zealand) who has won medals at every major event and whose personal best of 22.90 m (set in Doha in 2019) makes him the seventh best shot putter in history.

Of the younger generation, Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri (age 28) could bring his PB of 22.98 metres to the table, along with South Africa’s Kyle Blignaut, 26, a two-time Olympian (PB 21.26m).

Botha says the programme will also include the 60m sprint, hurdles, long jump, shot put, and high jump.

 

How it started

Botha, who grew his contacts and standing as coach of Olympic finalist sprinters Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, said the vision has been years in the making, driven by a belief that Namibia is capable of hosting elite global sporting events.

“I’ve had this dream for quite some time,” Botha explained. “For instance, in the last week we’ve seen Namibia co-hosting the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup— so why not athletics?

“This will be something we’ve never done before in Namibia, and possibly not even in Africa in this format.”

Instead of a traditional stadium setting, organisers will transform the city centre into a competition arena. A temporary 80-metre track will be built, allowing for 60-metre sprint races, while a range of field events will also be staged.

 

Involving the youth and community

Beyond elite competition, the two-day event is designed as a full celebration of athletics and community sport. There will be youth athletics for children aged seven to 19, a street mile featuring Kenyan runners who have won world cross-country titles, and a celebrity 60m sprint, with even a deputy minister already confirmed.

“We decided on two days, so that events don’t clash,” Botha said. “From morning until evening there will be kids’ athletics, entertainment and activities for everyone. It’s really about involving the whole community.”

For spectators, the grass bank and a specially constructed pavilion will offer a premium viewing experience in the festive atmosphere.

Botha says the occasion will a belated birthday celebration for the country after Independence Day celebrations.

“It started as my dream, but now it’s a shared dream,” he said. “We want people to come in numbers. We’ll make as much space as possible so everyone can be part of these two special days.”

With world-class athletes, street racing, youth participation and entertainment all rolled into one, Windhoek’s first World Athletics Continental Tour event promises to be a landmark moment for Namibian sport.