Different strategy for Dam
Aiming for 1:46s
Manager Bethold Karumendu has admitted that athlete David Dam will have to put in a lot of work to breakthrough on the international athletics scene.
Namibia’s middle-distance running prospect David Dam will approach the year with a different strategy compared to last year in a bid to claim national and continental glory.
The athlete, who is currently in Omaruru, is said to have commenced preparation for a year in which he is expected to prove his mesmerising potential.
Dam’s camp is keen on making progress this year.
The plan is to have Dam compete in only one local Grand Prix leg in the third month of the year to pave the way towards the national senior athletics championships.
Slow and steady
Dam’s manager, Bethold Karumendu, is confident that a different strategy will yield the desired results for the athlete in 2023.
"We will not burn him out like we did last year, because he had to compete in many local legs before the big competitions came.
"This means that by the time he was competing in the bigger races, he had lost enough energy to produce what he is capable of.
"He is back in training, but it is still early days to determine the kind of form he will be in given that he was not active during the off-season," Karumendu said.
This year, the athlete is likely to only start competing in March, just before the national championships.
Busy, busy
In 2022, Dam competed in five athletic Grand Prix legs between January and March prior to the national championships.
"It was something we felt did not do him justice when he competed at the bigger events.
"We are all aware of the kind of potential David has, and we believe he still has more in his locker to unleash," the manager added.
The athlete clinched the national 1 500m gold medal at last year’s national championships in a time of 3:56,61 and a silver in the 800m, clocking 1:53,13.
Dam went on to compete in 800- and 1500-meter races in South Africa and Botswana before taking a break during the holiday and athletics' off-season.
It was the athlete’s first season to compete outside Namibia, and his coach and mentor was proud of the standard he set for himself.
Achieving goals
He currently has a personal best of 1:48,63 in the 800m and 3:56,14 in the 1 500m races.
"Our main target this year is the All Africa Games and other competitions around the continent.
"We are aware that he needs to at least move from 1:48s to 1:46s if he is to get closer to his Commonwealth dream and maybe even the Diamond League.
"The Diamond League requires below 1:45s and that is the times we want to have him running by the end of this year or early next year," Karumendu remarked.
All help welcome
Karumendu pleaded with the corporate world to assist the athlete with the necessary training resources required.
"The preparation of an athlete does not always just begin before a big competition, but even during training.
"They need all kinds of nutrients and supplements in order for them to be fully prepared for bigger events as athletes.
"We would like to thank the sponsors that came on board for Dam last year and just to remind them that his journey does not end here and he will need assistance if he is to become what many feel he can be," Karumendu noted.
The athlete, who is currently in Omaruru, is said to have commenced preparation for a year in which he is expected to prove his mesmerising potential.
Dam’s camp is keen on making progress this year.
The plan is to have Dam compete in only one local Grand Prix leg in the third month of the year to pave the way towards the national senior athletics championships.
Slow and steady
Dam’s manager, Bethold Karumendu, is confident that a different strategy will yield the desired results for the athlete in 2023.
"We will not burn him out like we did last year, because he had to compete in many local legs before the big competitions came.
"This means that by the time he was competing in the bigger races, he had lost enough energy to produce what he is capable of.
"He is back in training, but it is still early days to determine the kind of form he will be in given that he was not active during the off-season," Karumendu said.
This year, the athlete is likely to only start competing in March, just before the national championships.
Busy, busy
In 2022, Dam competed in five athletic Grand Prix legs between January and March prior to the national championships.
"It was something we felt did not do him justice when he competed at the bigger events.
"We are all aware of the kind of potential David has, and we believe he still has more in his locker to unleash," the manager added.
The athlete clinched the national 1 500m gold medal at last year’s national championships in a time of 3:56,61 and a silver in the 800m, clocking 1:53,13.
Dam went on to compete in 800- and 1500-meter races in South Africa and Botswana before taking a break during the holiday and athletics' off-season.
It was the athlete’s first season to compete outside Namibia, and his coach and mentor was proud of the standard he set for himself.
Achieving goals
He currently has a personal best of 1:48,63 in the 800m and 3:56,14 in the 1 500m races.
"Our main target this year is the All Africa Games and other competitions around the continent.
"We are aware that he needs to at least move from 1:48s to 1:46s if he is to get closer to his Commonwealth dream and maybe even the Diamond League.
"The Diamond League requires below 1:45s and that is the times we want to have him running by the end of this year or early next year," Karumendu remarked.
All help welcome
Karumendu pleaded with the corporate world to assist the athlete with the necessary training resources required.
"The preparation of an athlete does not always just begin before a big competition, but even during training.
"They need all kinds of nutrients and supplements in order for them to be fully prepared for bigger events as athletes.
"We would like to thank the sponsors that came on board for Dam last year and just to remind them that his journey does not end here and he will need assistance if he is to become what many feel he can be," Karumendu noted.
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