Namibia’s speed queens Tjipekapora Herunga and Globine Mayova are confident of reaching even faster times this year as they prepare for more international events coming up this year.
Their coach Letu Hamhola said he hoped to send them to international athletics meetings in Europe, depending on finances, but they will definitely both be in action at the Africa Athletics Championships which take place in Benin from June 27 to July 1.
Herunga and Mayova have been in fantastic form at the South African Yellow Pages Series over the past two months, breaking number of records.
At the South African Open in Pretoria on May 5, Herunga shattered her own 400m national record with a new time of 51,24 seconds which was also an Olympic A qualifying time. With that time she became the 10th fastest woman over 400m so far this season and on this form she might just cause a surprise or two at the Olympics.
Herunga however feels that she can go even faster and is aiming to go under 50 seconds for the event.
‘Now I just want to work hard so that I can be ready for the Olympics, but I know that I am ready. I want to run sub-50 seconds at the Olympics and I know I can do it. My coach also believes that I can do it.”
“This will be my first Olympics and I’m very happy and excited to be going. I’m just looking forward to racing to the best of my ability,” she added.
Herunga did not want to make any predictions but she was confident of doing reaching the final in the 400m.
“I won’t say that I will win a medal, but I will go there to give my best. I know everyone is ready but I will also be ready. I’m confident that I will definitely reach a final. I must just stay focussed and work hard,” she said.
Mayova has been in scintillating form and at the SA Open on May 5 set two new Namibian records over 100m and 200m with respective times of 11,54 and 23,39 seconds. She is however still outside the Olympic qualifying times in both events with the B qualifying times set at 11,38 and 23,30 seconds respectively.
Mayova, however is confident that she can qualify for one, if not both events, for the Olympics.
“I hope that we can go to Europe because I think that I can run even faster. If I can run against top opposition I think I can make 11,40 or 11,30, because my aim is to still qualify for the Olympics.
“I’m sure I can make the qualifying time of 23,30. Of that I’m sure. Its only 0,9 away seconds and in Benin there will be a lot of fast runners and I will push myself,” she added.