World U/18 high jump champ at Erongo Athletics Championships

ERONGO, Aug. 24 – The Erongo Region Open Athletics Championships will be hosted by Swakop Striders Athletic Club on 26 August 2017 (Saturday) and promises to be an exceptional event this year, with South African high jump sensation and under 18 world champion, Breyton Poole also to participate.

Apart from competing against Namibian high jumpers, Poole will give an exhibition of high jumping at “The Dome” Indoor Sport Complex on the evening. Breyton, accompanied by his father, Herman Poole and his coach Bennie Schlechter arrived in Swakopmund yesterday (Wednesday) and the 17-year old athlete, who is only 1,72m tall, won the world championship title in Nairobi, Kenya after clearing the 2,24m height-barrier.

The event will take place at the Swakopmund Athletics Stadium in Vineta and starts at 08h00, and apart from events such as the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m,  and 1500m, it will also cater for athletes living with disabilities.

Namibia’s top athletes will be in action, with several clubs, schools and regions expected to compete in both track and field events in the U/15, U/17, and Open age groups.

The track and field event is expected to be completed by 16h00, where after, at 19h00, the action will move to “The Dome” Indoor Sports Centre for the medal presentations. According to the Mr Hennie Horn from Swakop Striders, these will not be the typical presentations as several surprises are awaiting the spectators also.

Sponsors will be presented and long serving athletes and coaches will be honoured at the occasion. – Marshallino Beukes