Diamond returns with win over Herunga at Khomas Regionals

Hitjiverue Kaanjuka leads men's 100m / Photo: Namibia Sport

Returning sprinter Merlyn Diamond won the women's 100m as the Khomas Athletics Region held its final preparation trials on Saturday at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek, ahead of this weekend’s National Athletics Championships.

About 80 athletes participated at the trials which gave athletes an opportunity to improve their times and still try to qualify for the National Championships.

Unfortunately the camera timing device malfunctioned and the time keepers had to rely on hand-held times.

Sprinter Merlyn Diamond returned after an injury layoff in style to win the women’s 100m in 11.7 seconds, beating Tjipe Herunga (11.9) and Cornel Britz (12.0) to the line.

Herunga however won the 200m in 24.0 seconds, with Britz second in 24.3 and Diamond third in 24.7 seconds.

Hitjiverue Kaanjuka won the men’s sprint double, winning the 100m in 10.3 seconds, followed by Phillipus Paulus (10.5) and Joseph Lundulukeni (10.7) and the 200m in 20.9, followed by Basilius Karupu (21.5) and Even Tjiviju (21.5).

Basilius Karupu won the men’s 400m in 48.2 seconds, Johannes Shipopyeni won the 800m in 1:59.4, and Ebenezer Haufiku won the 1500m in 4:27.9.

Namibia’s Junior Sportswoman of the Year Sune Wittmann dominated the women’s field events, winning the javelin, discus as well as shotput events.

The 16-year-old Wittmann won the javelin with a distance of 38.92m, finishing well ahead of second placed Vuanda Kamberipa (24.50m).

Wittmann won the shotput with a distance of 11.15m and the discus with a distance of 32.83m.

The 18-year-old Jean Pierre Grobler won the men’s discus event with a distance of 39.49m, as well as the javelin with a distance of 44.39m.

The Namibian National Senior Athletics Championships will take place on Friday and Saturday at the Windhoek Independence Stadium.

See Complete Results of the Khomas trials below:

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