Namibia scoops gold in athletics

POTCHEFSTROOM – Upcoming long-distance runner Martha Shivolo won a gold medal in the 1 500m women’s final of the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa (SCSA) Zone Six Youth Games in Potchefstroom, South Africa, yesterday.

Shivolo crossed the finish line in a time of 4 minutes 33.29 seconds, beating Idah Phorisa of Botswana and Maxine Heine-Wacker of South Africa in second and third place respectively.
In the 100m hurdles women final, Namibia’s Steffi van Wyk came third in a time of 15.18 seconds while in the 4x100m women final, Namibia came third after South Africa and Zambia.
In the high jump final, Namibia’s Michelle Pretorius got a bronze medal after she jumped 1.70m while in the triple jump final for men, Alberto Mouton settled for bronze after recording 13.85m.
Like most of the events, athletics also concluded yesterday apart from the men’s football final scheduled for today at 17h00 before the closing ceremony.

SWIMMERS GET MEDALS

The national under-20 swimming team continued with positive waves in the pool as they collected nine medals of which three were collected on Tuesday.
In the 200-metre freestyle final for men on Tuesday, Quinton Delie took silver in a time of 2.00.92 seconds while in the 50m breaststroke women’s final Daniela Lindemeier got a bronze medal with a time of 36.61 seconds.
Also on Tuesday, the women’s relay team scooped silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay, beating Mozambique in third place as South Africa took gold.
On Wednesday, the swimmers continued making their presence felt in various final competitions.
In the 200m breaststroke final for men, Byron Briedenhann clinched a silver medal in 2.17.69 seconds while in the 200m breaststroke women’s final Lindemeier took silver in 2.41.70 seconds.
In the 4x50m freestyle relay the Namibia women’s team settled for silver in a time of 1.56.97 seconds.
Adding a bronze medal on the day was Edith Wasserfall in the 400m freestyle women’s final while Briedenhann got bronze in the 50m backstroke women’s final.
Briedenhann continued making an impact in the swimming discipline after collecting yet another bronze medal in the 50m butterfly final.
According to the swimming team manager, Alessandra van Wyk, Namibia stood a good chance of settling for silver after host South Africa in the overall standings late yesterday. – Nampa