Botswana’s Onnaye Ramohube and Kagiso Kumbane (South Africa) sparkled, while Zambia’s versatile teenager Rachel Nachula showed promise at the Southern Africa Regional Permit meet in Gaborone Botswana (5 May).
Staged at the University of Botswana Stadium, the inaugural Regional Permit meet featured athletes from and Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, host Botswana.
Men’s High Jump
Cheered on by the home crowd, little-known Ramohube demonstrated that Botswana’s depth of quality high jumpers is growing when he cleared the bar at 2.25m. Besides comfortably winning the event, Ramohube improved his career best five centimetres.
"For two years I have been stuck at 2.20m. I feel relieved that I have overcome this barrier. With the All Africa Games coming up (in July), I want to stay in shape to make the team to (Algiers) Algeria. Hopefully with stiffer competition I can add a few centimetres to my career best this year,” said a delighted Ramohube.
Men’s Sprints
Elsewhere South Africa’s Kagiso Kumbane had his hand full fending of the spirited challenge from Hietjiviorue Kaanjuka (Namibia) in the 100 and 200m. The effort paid off as the 19-year-old Kumbane won the 100m in 10.43 to Kaanjuka’s 10.49. Kumbane again prevailed in the 200m ( 20.75) to his Namibian rival’s 20.91. What’s more Kumbane improved his 200m personal best by three hundredth of a second.
"All this come as a relief after year of being in the shadows. After the disappointment of an early exit in the preliminaries at the World Junior Championships last year, I want this my final year as a junior to be a memorable one. My hope is to go out on a high at the Africa Junior Championships in August,” says Kumbane.
Zambia’s raw talent
Perhaps the meet's best new find was Zambia’s 19-year-old Rachel Nachila. She opened the day by winning her 200m heat in 23.42. Although the slower of the two heats she had the fastest time. Nachula went on to finish runner up in the 800m (2:12.30) and 400m (52.99).
Since Africa’s finest 400m hurdler (Samuel Matete) retired, Zambia has yet to produce another world beater. Nachula has shown she has the potential. So has Tony Wamulwa (14:16.34) runner up in the men’s 5000m. Wamulwa made his mark finishing ninth in the Junior Men’s Race at the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya in March.
Veterans win
After being plagued with sickness last year, former Africa 400m champion Eric Milazar (Mauritius) showed signs of regaining his lost form with 46.46 seconds victory in the one lap race. “I am back. Now that I have regained my health, I plan to make to the finals of the 400m for the fourth time in my career,” said Milazar.
Anther seasoned campaigner who emerged victorious was Botswana’s Gable Garenamotse (7.96) who was challenged all the way by Arnaud Casquette (7.88) of Mauritrius. “The Long Jump competition at the All Africa Games will be very stiff as several of us leap well over eight metres. My primary goal will be to better my national record of 8.27m,” said Garenamotse, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist.
Elsewhere Lindy Asricole (Seychelles) 51.57 had little difficulty winning the women’s Javelin Throw in her first competition of the year. “I will train and compete in France for a month before the All Africa Games. My aim is to improve on the bronze medal I won at the last All Africa Games in (Abuja) Nigeria,” says Asricole.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
