New coastal athletics club on track

The coast will soon have another registered athletics club, which will be affiliated to Athletics Namibia. According to Erongo’s Youth, National Services, Sport and Culture (YNSSC) officer Mara Kandjiriomuini, plans are on track to establish an athletics club in Walvis Bay’s township of Kuisebmond. This was brought about since the Walvis Bay Athletic Club remains largely inactive despite the abundance of talent at the harbour town. Kandjiriomuini invited all interested athletes who are serious about competing on a national level to contact her on 081 206 2806. Evidence of the talent at the coastal towns was shown by the performance of athletes from that area in a race held in Omaruru over the weekend. Long-distance runners and Swakopmund Strider Athletic club members Erich Goeieman (34), Albertinus Goeieman (18) and Annanias Simon (17) represented Walvis Bay at the Coca Cola 10km race in Omaruru on Saturday. Albertinus finished first in the junior division with a time of 33:09 and Annanias followed in second position with a time of 36:15. Erich finished fourth in the senior division with a time of 31:46. Their participation at the event was made possible by a sponsorship from YNSSC. They used the race as preparation for the annual Lucky Star Marathon from Walvis Bay to Swakopmund scheduled for October 4. Albertinus is the current 10km champion (32:26) and Erich finished 6th in 2013. Albertinus expressed his satisfaction with his performance after the event in Omaruru. “My aim was to improve on the second place finish I obtained and my time of 35:28 which I recorded at the Windhoek City Marathon in July.” He also clinched the Areva 10km race on August 2. Erich competed in the 20km event and finished first with a time of 1:03. Annanias is a Grade 11 Duinesig Secondary School pupil. He has been an active long-distance runner for the past four years and trains with the Goeieman brothers. “The second place I obtained in Omaruru was my first podium finish. I am looking forward to establish myself as a consistent performer on the road running scene,” he commented. WALVIS BAY OTIS DANIELS