Windhoek: The Utokero Athletics Club (UAC) from Kavango West delivered a strong showing at the Namibia U16, U18, and U20 Track and Field Athletics Championships held at Windhoek's Independence Stadium on Friday and Saturday, winning eight medals. The team walked away with five gold and three silver medals.
According to Namibia Press Agency, UAC's medal haul was led by distance runner Maria Kanyanga, who secured gold in both the 5,000m and 3,000m. Middle-distance specialist Reino Haupindi added two golds in the 1,500m and 800m, while sprinter Kasera Lazarus clinched gold in the 400m. On the podium in silver were Hilde Jairus, who won second place in both the 1,500m and 800m, and sprinter Rossymary Musamba with silver in the 200m.
Club fitness trainer and coach, Simon Nkuumbwa, welcomed the results as proof of steady progress. "Our athletes' performances keep improving at every competition. The dream and hope for UAC is to have these athletes qualify for international competitions such as the Africa Youth Championships, World Youth Championships, Youth Olympic Games, and Commonwealth Games, so they can test themselves at the international level," he said.
Nkuumbwa added that national rankings reflect the club's rising standards. "We have athletes listed in the top eight in the country in their respective categories," he said. Currently, Maria Kanyanga is the national junior champion in the 1,500m, 5,000m, and 10,000m, while Hilde Jairus is a junior bronze medallist in the 800m and 1,500m. "From the male athletes, Reino Haupindi is a national junior bronze medallist in the 1,500m," Nkuumbwa said.
The coach said the next phase is to convert national form into international qualification. "If they compete against the best from different continents, then we will know they can compete at that level," Nkuumbwa said. Utokero Athletics Club, based in the Kavango West Region, currently has 12 athletes in sprints, middle distance, and long distance.
With five golds headlining their weekend, UAC returns home with momentum and clearer targets ahead of the next qualifiers and national calendar events, said Nkuumbwa.