Daniel Nghipandulwa was Namibia’s best performer on the opening day of the 17th African Senior Athletics Championships in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday.
Nghipandulwa finished fourth in Heat Three of the 800m in a time of 1:52:12 to to qualify for the semifinals which will be held on Thursday afternoon.
Nghipandulwa has been drawn in ther first 800m semifinal, alongside South Africa’s 800m world champion, Mbulauni Mulaudzi, who set the fastest time in the heats of 1:43,58.
Namibia’s sprinters did not do too well on the opening day.
Sprinters Jesse Urikhob and Hitjiverue Kaanjuka both reached the semifinals of the Men’s 100m sprint where they were both eliminated.
Urikhob finished third in the second heat of the first round in a time of 10,84 to qualify for the semifinals, while Kaanjuka finished third in Heat Three in a time of 10,70 seconds.
Both athletes were however eliminated in the semifinals, with Urikhob finishing eighth in the first semifinal in 10,78 seconds, while Kaanjuka finished fifth in the second semifinal in 10,54 seconds.
Kaanjuka was ranked 17th and Urikhob 22nd out of 24 athletes who competed in the 100m.
Namibian female sprinter Merlin Diamond had been entered for the women’s 100m, but did not start her race.
Namibia’s 400m female champion Tjipekapora Herunga was well off her best when she could only finish sixth in her heat in 57,03 seconds, which was more than four seconds slower than her national record of 52,46 seconds.
Namibia’s remaining athletes at the Championships are Corlia Kruger who will compete in the women’s heptathlon, which starts on Friday morning and Roger Haitengi, who will compete in the men’s triple jump on Saturday afternoon.