Hamhola defends Jamaica project

Athletics coach Letu Hamhola feels that Namibians have not shown enough support for the ‘Vision 2016’ project under which athletes were sent to Jamaica to train and hopefully qualify for the Rio Olympic Games. At this stage, though, none of the athletes have reached the level required. Hamhola feels that too much attention has been given to that fact, instead of looking at other positives. “It seems that many are trying hard to prove that nobody… has qualified for the Olympics in Rio,” he said in a press release. Hamhola mentioned that the athletes broke several national records during the time they spent in Jamaica. These included the women’s 4x100m relay record and the 4x200m men’s record, which both fell last Saturday. In the women’s race the quartet of Tjipekapora Herunga, Globine Mayova, Keshia Kalomo and Lilanne Klaasman improved the national record from 46.49 to 45.53 seconds. The previous record was set in in South Africa in 2012 by Mayova, Herunga, Stefi van Wyk and Merlin Diamond. The men’s 2x200m record was set by Gilbert Hainuca, Hitjivirue Kaanjuka, Jesse Uri-khob and Adiel van Wyk, who came second to eventual winners G.C Foster College. They recorded a time of 1:25.06. This is in addition to the 60m women’s record, which was improved by Keshia ‘Super Mini’ Kalomo when she clocked 6.57 seconds. She improved the previous mark of 6.64 seconds, which was set by Mayova at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2012. Hamhola also listed sprinter Jesse Uri-khob’s time of 10.28 to win the men’s 100m during the JAAA Puma Jamalco meet in Clarendon, Jamaica, as a highlight. The time is just 0.07 seconds away from the qualifying standard of 10.16 for the Olympic Games. “I am encouraged by the early-season form and the athletes are working hard to achieve the short- and long-term goals we have set,” he said. But instead of receiving encouragement from Namibia, Hamhola said people’s focus was on other things. “I would have assumed that a phone call of encouragement would be best,” he said. Hamhola said there still was time for Namibia to get athletes ready but a dose of reality was also needed. “Tjipe [Herunga] is a Olympic semi-finalist, Rodger [Haitengi in triple jump] looks good to create history of becoming the first Namibian jumper at a Olympics and Jesse is edging closer and so will many other athletes. “However, we must realise that Namibia in the world’s eyes has no ‘superstars’ and it will take time and a positive attitude and a programme such as this. “But we will continue working hard to improve our times before the deadline of July 11,” he said. SPORT REPORTER