Ryan and Talaya to the fore in Africa

Discus thrower Ryan Williams joined the exclusive company of Frank Fredericks more than two decades ago as the only Namibian track and field athlete to win a gold medal at the African athletics championship.

On Thursday night in the men’s discus throw final at the University of Accra Stadium in Ghana’s capital, Williams (57.45 metres) beat Lucien Wangba of Cameroon (silver, 57.18m) and South Africa’s Righardt Stander (bronze, 56.13m).

Williams’ historic gold was confirmed only minutes after 18-year-old pole vaulter Talaya Vorster stood out in her own remarkable debut at this level by securing a bronze medal.

Legendary sprinter Fredericks' career at the African championships delivered a silver in the 100 metres and gold in the 200 metres at the Dakar 1998 edition. Four years later he won the double sprint golds at Tunis 2002.

The 26-year-old Williams previously won discus throw bronze at the 2022 and 2024 African championships in Mauritius and Cameroon, respectively.

Williams started his competition with throws of 55.12 and 56.69 metres before delivering the winning effort on his third attempt, that prompted the playing of the Namibian anthem at the next day's medal ceremony.

His big continental breakthrough puts another stamp on a remarkable season in which he won both South Africa and Namibia’s national championship titles. The long-time University of North West athlete recently took up employment as a teacher at Hoërskool Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, who were also chuffed to congratulate the Namibian on his achievement in Ghana.

In a message from Accra, the multiple national champion in discus throw and shot put expressed gratitude.

“Firstly I’d like to thank my Heavenly Father for the talent He has given me, and the strength to daily do what I can do. It is such a privilege to be able to continue doing sport, so I’m thankful for the opportunity that crossed my path.

“Considering the throwers who were present here, we knew it would be a tough and close competition. In the training session beforehand we were checking each other’s form out, so the build-up was quite stressful.

“The weather was perfect and I’m glad that the competition turned out well. Conditions here were a bit challenging, but we took it on as it came, worked around it and made the best of the situation.”

Williams says there is a chance to be selected for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (23 July to 02 August), although athletes are awaiting the communication and selection announcement from the national sports authorities.

“I have an opportunity to go compete in Europe, which I’m very much looking forward to. My coach and I will discuss our approach to training and competition when I return home.

“I was grateful to win bronze medals at two previous African championships, but one is always striving to win the gold. Winning this one makes me look forward to the future editions of the African championship; I’m excited to go out and give it my best shot.

“As the Namibian team, we see every message of support and we appreciate it. We are excited to return back to Windhoek and to eat some proper meat again.”

Talaya Vorster won the first medal of the championship for the Athletics Namibia team just minutes before on Thursday evening.

The teenager made history as the first Namibian pole vaulter (male or female) to compete at the African senior track and field championship.

In the competition featuring five athletes from four nations, Vorster finished in joint third position to win a bronze medal with a season’s best height of 3.50 m.

The newly crowned African champion Ansumé de Beer of South Africa was in a class of her own (4.30 metres). Dorr Mahfoudi of Tunisia took silver (3.70), while Vorster and Tamer Reem of Egypt each received a bronze medal.

Talaya is the daughter of former two-time Namibian Olympic mountain biker Michelle Vorster and lives with her family in Auckland, New Zealand. She is coached by her father Johan and set her personal best of 3.60 metres in February 2025.

Talaya stated on social media: “So grateful for every person who supported, encouraged, and believed in me along the way. Thank you Athletics Namibia, Madeleine Kotze (team manager and A.N. secretary-general), my coach Johan Vorster, and Louis Nienaber for all your effort. All glory to God.”

Tough going

The Namibian sprinters and men’s 4x100 relay team found the going tough, with only Charley Matundu reaching the 200 metres semi-final round after winning his heat on Saturday.

Elvis Gaseb was eliminated in the semi-final of the 400m (46.77, 6th place), while Tuuliki Angala came ninth in her 800m semi-final (2:08.63).

Lionel Coetzee’s season’s best of 7.95 in the men’s long jump final was only good enough for fifth place behind the South African gold medal winner Luvo Manyonga (8.15).

Dawid Afrikaner finished sixth in the men’s triple jump with 15.84 metres, while Frieda Ithete was due to compete in the women’s triple jump final last night.