Update: Namibian Athletics Team in Mauritius for SACA Championships
By TUW
The Namibian national junior athletics team has officially arrived in Mauritius ahead of the highly anticipated Southern Africa Confederation Athletics (SACA) U18 & U20 Championships. The continental tournament is scheduled to take place from June 6–7 at the world-class Côte d’Or National Sports Complex.
A total of 15 elite young athletes have been selected by Athletics Namibia to represent the nation on this competitive regional stage. Under the guidance of Head Coach Hennie Horn and Team Manager Meriam Minin, the delegation is accompanied by Athletics Namibia President Leon Nienaber, who is attending as the official country representative.
Among the standout prospects is Under-20 middle-distance runner Maria Kanyanga. Kanyanga, born April 17, 2007, was spotted completing an intensive morning training session at the track today.
According to the official tournament program, Kanyanga’s high-stakes race is scheduled for June 6 (Day 1):
Event: 1500m Final (Women’s U20)
Official Start Time: 14H50 (2:50 PM local time)
Kanyanga enters the track with a clear objective: clocking a personal best of 4 minutes and 27 seconds. Achieving this milestone will secure her a standard qualification time for the upcoming World Athletics U20 Championships, which will take place at the historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA, this coming August.
The two-day championship will feature fierce competition as Namibia squares off against ten other powerhouse nations across the Southern African region.The participating countries include:
- Botswana
- Comoros
- Eswatini
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Mauritius (Host)
- Namibia
- Reunion
- Seychelles
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Official Team Namibia Roster
Athletics Namibia confirmed the final 15-athlete traveling squad across both age categories:
Under-20 (U20) Division
| Athlete Name & Surname | Date of Birth | Gender | Scheduled Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruano De Calvalho | 2007/02/11 | Male | 100m, 200m |
| Jaco Potgieter | 2008/01/22 | Male | 110m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles |
| Halleluya Kaulinge | 2007/01/23 | Male | High Jump |
| Maria Kanyanga | 2007/04/17 | Female | 1500m |
| Kazaatjo Kambiri | 2008/01/03 | Female | 200m, 400m |
| Marike Weitz | 2008/04/05 | Female | Discus |
| Lauren van Niekerk | 2007/08/30 | Female | Long Jump, Triple Jump |
Under-18 (U18) Division
| Athlete Name & Surname | Date of Birth | Gender | Scheduled Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miheshco Mouton | 2009/02/15 | Male | 100m, 200m |
| Christo van Rooyen | 2009/09/15 | Male | 110m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles |
| Anro Bouwer | 2010/02/22 | Male | High Jump |
| Algezano van Wyk | 2009/08/04 | Male | Long Jump |
| L’wyk Viljoen | 2009/06/08 | Male | Shot Put |
| Matt-Reece Izaaks | 2009/04/20 | Male | 800m, 1500m |
| Alexandra Scheepers | 2009/07/07 | Female | High Jump, Long Jump |
| Ovaua Katjioungua | 2010/07/02 | Female | 200m, 400m |
There will unfortunately not be any streaming outside Mauritius. It will however be broadcast on the local TV.
