Samaria calls for support

MIDDLE-DISTANCE runner Agnes Samaria feels that competing at international events without a coach makes it difficult for her to perform.

She says she has been competing in most of the international races, including the recent World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan, without the help of a coach and this has negatively affected her performance as she has to deal with other logistics instead of concentrating on her races. Samaria, who is now 35 years of age, did not manage any medals at the championships after competing in both the 800 and 1 500m races.She came last in the semi-finals of the 800m a week ago, and at the weekend she ended eight in the 1 500m race, but she bettered her Namibian record in that race.”I would like to say that I have been competing in the past world champs and other champs, since Frank Fredericks retirement, mostly as the only Namibian, without any coach around,” she said via e-mail yesterday.She said Namibia is the only country that does not send a coach with its athletes, while other smaller countries do it.”If these other countries can send coaches with their athletes, why not Namibia? I think this should be considered as soon as possible.As an athlete, I feel that it is extremely important to have somebody around to talk to, to assist you, to have valuable support from.I did not have this and had to do everything by myself, from running around for a visa and tickets, training in Osaka and a lot more other things.Let us hope that this can change,” said the Namibian middle-distance champion.Samaria this year won two medals at the All-Africa Games in Algeria, scooping a silver in the 800m race and a bronze in the 1 500m.She has been the most successful athlete with consistent participation on the international circuit since the retirement of Namibian sprint legend Frank Fredericks a few years ago.On the race, Samaria said that she was very tired, as she had competed in five highly competitive races in just a week.”I am very proud of my results, by reaching the semi-final in 800m and with my season’s best in the heat, close to my national record, although a little disappointed,” she said.She said she did not have enough energy and learned to take more minerals to compensate the humidity.Samaria set a new national record of 4 minutes, 7,61 seconds during the 1 500m race at the weekend and she says it is a pity that she was not fresh enough to follow the best in that final.”But I think that I am the first Namibian female athlete to reach a final in a world champs.Maybe I should consider switching to the 1 500m only instead of running both 800 and 1 500m,” she said.She said 2007 was her first real competition year in the 1 500m and since January, she had already shattered the national record five times, but thinks that she can still improve.”The 800m becomes more and more difficult, with a new younger generation taking over.With my place in the 1 500m final I hope to be invited for the Grand Prix races in September in Europe.I would love to run a few races to make up for the year,” she said.Samaria said if invited, she will only be back in Namibia on October 6.Samaria, who is now 35 years of age, did not manage any medals at the championships after competing in both the 800 and 1 500m races.She came last in the semi-finals of the 800m a week ago, and at the weekend she ended eight in the 1 500m race, but she bettered her Namibian record in that race.”I would like to say that I have been competing in the past world champs and other champs, since Frank Fredericks retirement, mostly as the only Namibian, without any coach around,” she said via e-mail yesterday.She said Namibia is the only country that does not send a coach with its athletes, while other smaller countries do it.”If these other countries can send coaches with their athletes, why not Namibia? I think this should be considered as soon as possible.As an athlete, I feel that it is extremely important to have somebody around to talk to, to assist you, to have valuable support from.I did not have this and had to do everything by myself, from running around for a visa and tickets, training in Osaka and a lot more other things.Let us hope that this can change,” said the Namibian middle-distance champion.Samaria this year won two medals at the All-Africa Games in Algeria, scooping a silver in the 800m race and a bronze in the 1 500m.She has been the most successful athlete with consistent participation on the international circuit since the retirement of Namibian sprint legend Frank Fredericks a few years ago.On the race, Samaria said that she was very tired, as she had competed in five highly competitive races in just a week.”I am very proud of my results, by reaching the semi-final in 800m and with my season’s best in the heat, close to my national record, although a little disappointed,” she said.She said she did not have enough energy and learned to take more minerals to compensate the humidity.Samaria set a new national record of 4 minutes, 7,61 seconds during the 1 500m race at the weekend and she says it is a pity that she was not fresh enough to follow the best in that final.”But I think that I am the first Namibian female athlete to reach a final in a world champs.Maybe I should consider switching to the 1 500m only instead of running both 800 and 1 500m,” she said.She said 2007 was her first real competition year in the 1 500m and since January, she had already shattered the national record five times, but thinks that she can still improve.”The 800m becomes more and more difficult, with a new younger generation taking over.With my place in the 1 500m final I hope to be invited for the Grand Prix races in September in Europe.I would love to run a few races to make up for the year,” she said.Samaria said if invited, she will only be back in Namibia on October 6.