Unam dominates sprints at Khomas Champs

Athletics
Unam Athletics Club athletes swept all the gold medals in the sprint events at the championships.
Mariud Ngula
  • 14 Hours Ago

The Khomas Regional Senior Track and Field Championships were largely dominated by athletes from the University of Namibia (Unam) Athletics in the sprint events.

Held at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday, the meet marked the second leg of the Khomas

athletics championships, with the first leg staged at the same venue last month.

Unam’s first gold medal came through Jade Nangula in the women’s 200m final, where she clocked 24.20 seconds ahead of clubmate Napuumue Hengari (25.95).

The bronze medal went to Kim Mbaha (26.18) of Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust)

Welwitschia 77 Athletics.

Nangula secured her second gold in the 100m final, stopping the clock at 11.85 seconds ahead of Hanganeni

Fikunawa of Nust (12.55) and Frieda Iithete of Namibian Correctional Service (NCS; 12.84).

Unam’s dominance continued in the men’s 200m final, where Charley Matundu clocked 21.32 seconds to edge Oceans Athletics Club’s Magano Naseb by just 0.01 seconds (21.33).

The bronze medal went to Elton Hoeseb of Quinton-Steele Botes (QSB), who finished 0.11 seconds behind

Naseb (21.44).

Matundu went on to complete his sprint double by winning the 100m final in 10.76 seconds, 0.06 ahead of

silver medallist Maswahu Gift (QSB; 10.82) and 0.12 ahead of Naseb (10.88).

In the 400m events, Unam saw fresh talent step up to secure further gold medals.

Hengari added the women’s 400m title to her earlier 200m silver, clocking 57.14 seconds ahead of private entry Johanna Shipanga (1:03.19) and Anna Kamwele (Unam) (1:06.41).

The men’s 400m was won by Rudolph Kamambo (Unam) in 47.87 seconds, followed by clubmates Dux Lutahezi (48.08) and Vetondouua Tjihumino (48.45).

 

Middle-distance winners

The women’s 800m was won by Tuuliki Angala (NCS) in 2:08.98, ahead of Anabel Luisa (Nust; 2:33.76) and

Selma Simon (Unam; 2:51.38).

The men’s 800m saw 19-year-old Xavier van der Leek of South Africa produce a dominant 1:49.83 to secure gold ahead of Mathew Angula (NCS; 1:52.98) and Nasimane Shigwedha (Unam; 1:55.41).

There were no entries for the women’s 1 500m.

The men’s 1 500m was won by Asser Nalukaku (NCS), who improved on last month’s winning time of 4:04.6 by 11.84 seconds to clock 3:52.76 and once again secure gold.

Ronny Elago (Karibib Athletics) again claimed silver, improving from 4:25.5 last month to 4:18.61. Abisai Mutumbulwa won bronze in 4:22.16.

Women’s 5 000m: 1 Simon (22:56.50), 2 Febronia Kashali (KNAM; 31:09.83), 3 Helena Laban (32:04.75).

Men’s 5 000m: 1 Dominikus Maulisiu (NAMOSH; 18:18.48), 2 Fikameni Hamutenya (NAMLAC; 18:47.24), 3 Frans Odunuga (KNAM; 24:20.48).

 

Hurdles winners

Women’s 100m hurdles: 1 Lauren van Niekerk (ADC; 15.92), sole competitor.

Men’s 110m hurdles: 1 Tedore Shiluwa (ORAMSC; 20.45), 2 Joseph Amupindi (TASC; 22.46).

Men’s 400m hurdles: 1 Nicholis du Plessis (QSB; 56.17), 2 Christo van Rooyen (WGAC; 58.30).

There were no entries for the women’s 400m hurdles.

 

Field events

In the field events, Lionel Coetzee (DAA) returned to action by clinching gold in the men’s long jump with

a leap of 7.71 metres after being hampered by injuries in recent seasons.

Although he did not threaten his national record of 8.27m set in Windhoek in April 2023, his return will be

welcomed by fans.

Silver went to Mathew Hawala (Unam; 6.80m), with Andrew Kalilo (SWSAC) taking bronze (6.65m).

Women’s long jump: 1 Frieda Iithete (5.84m), 2 Lauren van Niekerk (5.51m), 3 Talia Tawo (NAMLAC; 4.86m).

Women’s high jump: 1 Adara Gey van Pittius (ADC; 1.60m), 2 Arizhia van der Walt (ADC; 1.55m).

Men’s high jump: 1 Tillman Diergaardt (QSB; 1.95m), 2 Erdan van der Westhuizen (ADC; 1.95m), 3 Benjamin Hendrickse (ADC; 1.90m).

In the women’s discus, Marike Weitz (WGAC) showed strong form with a winning throw of 43.37m, just 0.07m

short of her personal best of 43.44m set in April 2024. She also won the women’s shot put with 12.25m.

Women’s discus: 2 Victoria Kandenge (KNAM; 31.94m), 3 Caroline Nakafingo (KNAM; 14.50m).

Women’s shot put: 2 Victoria Kandenge (7.98m), 3 Bella Tjituka (Unam; 7.27m).

Men’s discus: 1 William van Wyk (QSB; 29.19m), 2 Tapiwa Musekiwa

(ORAMSC; 25.55m), 3 Xavier Burger (TASC; 25.01m).

Men’s shot put: 1 Musekiwa (10.43m), 2 Arnold Kuume (KNAM; 8.71m), 3 Xavier

Burger (8.16m).

Women’s hammer: 1 Ansune Smith (QSB; 43.60m), sole competitor.

Men’s hammer: 1 William van Wyk (28.16m), sole competitor.

Women’s javelin: 1 Victoria Kandenge (31.94m), 2 Caroline Nakafingo (22.87m), 3 Helena Laban (16.97m).

Men’s javelin: 1 Jasper Engelbrecht (QSB; 57.76m), 2 William van Wyk (49.99m), 3 Lisias Mumbinda (NAMLAC; 49.27m).

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