Namibia at the 2019 World Athletics Championships

Last updated

Namibia at the
2019 World Athletics Championships
Flag of Namibia.svg
WA codeNAM
in Doha, Qatar
27 September 2019 (2019-09-27) – 6 October 2019 (2019-10-06)
Competitors2 in 2 events
Medals
Ranked 31st
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
1
Total
1
World Athletics Championships appearances

Namibia competed at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, from 27 September to 6 October 2019. The country's participation there marked its fifteenth appearance in the World Championships since its debut at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics. Namibia sent two athletes to the Championships, both of whom competed in the marathon events. Helalia Johannes became Namibia's first female medallist, and their first medallist in 26 years, when she won a bronze medal in the women's marathon. Tomas Hilifa Rainhold finished in 17th in the men's marathon.

Contents

Background

Namibia first competed in the World Athletics Championships (then known as the World Championships in Athletics) in 1991, and have taken part in every Championships since. During that period two athletes won five medals for the country. Their most recent medal had come during the 1997 Championships. [1] To qualify for the World Championships, athletes had to meet the standards set by the IAAF (now known as World Athletics). In most disciplines, these criteria were more difficult to achieve than they had been for the 2017 Championships. [2] Two athletes represented Namibia at the 2019 Championships: Tomas Hilifa Rainhold in the men's marathon and Helalia Johannes in the women's marathon. [3] Rainhold qualified for the Championships courtesy of completing the Hamburg Marathon in 2:14:14, [4] 1 minute and 46 seconds within the required standard of 2:16:00. [2] Johannes, who was the reigning Commonwealth champion after winning the 2018 marathon had set a new Namibia national record in March 2019, running 2:22:25 to win the Nagoya Women's Marathon, [3] well within the required 2:37:00. [2] The two athletes were accompanied by their coach Robert Kaxuxuena. [5]

Medallists

Medallists [6]
MedalNameEventDate
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Helalia Johannes Women's marathon 27 September

Results

Helalia Johannes became Namibia's first female medalist at the World Athletics Championships Helalia Johannes.jpg
Helalia Johannes became Namibia's first female medalist at the World Athletics Championships

Johannes, taking part in her fourth World Championships, [7] raced in the women's marathon on the opening night of the Championships. [8] Due to the hot conditions expected in Doha, the race started just before midnight. [9] In the IAAF's preview of the race, Johannes was considered "one to watch" by the sports writer Mike Rowbottom, particularly because her Commonwealth Games victory the previous year had been in temperatures of around 27 °C (81 °F). [10] Despite the midnight start, temperatures in Doha were higher than expected, at 32.7 °C (90.9 °F) and 73 per cent humidity. [11] Johannes was part of a leading pack that broke away around 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) into the race, [12] and she stayed with the leaders until there was around 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) of the race remaining, at which stage Ruth Chepng'etich and Rose Chelimo moved away from her. Johannes held onto third place, and finished in 2:34:15, around 30 seconds behind Chelimo and over a minute ahead of Edna Kiplagat in fourth. She became the first female medallist for Namibia at the World Championships. [13]

Rainhold was making his debut at the World Championships. [14] Competing in the men's marathon, which was also held just before midnight, Rainhold ran what the Namibian Sun described as "a good race". He completed the race in 2:14:38, and finished in 17th place. [15] Namibia's solitary bronze medal saw them finish joint 31st on the Championships medal table. [16]

Men

Track and road events
AthleteEventFinal
ResultRank
Tomas Hilifa Rainhold Marathon 2:14:3817

Women

Track and road events
AthleteEventFinal
ResultRank
Helalia Johannes Marathon 2:34:15Bronze medal icon.svg

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Half marathon</span> Road running event of 21.0975 kilometres

A half marathon is a road running event of 21.0975 kilometres —half the distance of a marathon. It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or a 5K race, using almost the same course with a late start, an early finish or shortcuts. If finisher medals are awarded, the medal or ribbon may differ from those for the full marathon. The half marathon is also known as a 21K, 21.1K, or 13.1 miles, although these values are rounded and not formally correct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helalia Johannes</span> Namibian long-distance runner

Helalia Lukeiko Johannes, also known as Hilaria Johannes, is a Namibian long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon. She holds the Namibian records in the 10 km, 20 km, half marathon and marathon events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games</span> International athletics championship event

The athletics competition at the 2010 Commonwealth Games was held in New Delhi, India between 6 and 14 October. The track and field events took place between 6–12 October at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium while the marathon contests were held on a street course running through the city on 14 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalkidan Gezahegne</span> Ethiopian-born Bahrani middle distance runner

Kalkidan Gezahegne is an Ethiopian-born Bahraini middle- and long-distance runner. She is the 10,000 metres 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medallist. 11 years earlier, at age 18, Gezahegne became the youngest ever female World indoor champion when winning 1500 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namibia at the 2012 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Namibia competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom from July 27 to August 12, 2012. This was the nation's sixth consecutive appearance at the Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faith Kipyegon</span> Kenyan middle-distance runner

Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon is a Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner. Kipyegon is the current world record holder for the 1500 metres, mile, and 5000 metres, all set in 2023. At both the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Kipyegon won a gold medal in the 1500 m. She also won a gold medal in the 1500 m at the 2017 and 2022 World Athletics Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 World Athletics Championships</span> Athletics competition

The 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships was the seventeenth edition of the biennial, global athletics competition organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), since renamed World Athletics. It was held between 27 September and 6 October 2019 in Doha, Qatar, at the renovated multi-purpose Khalifa International Stadium, but reduced to 21,000 available seats. 1,772 athletes from 206 teams competed in 49 athletics events over the ten-day competition, comprising 24 events each for men and women, plus a mixed relay. There were 43 track and field events, 4 racewalking events, and 2 marathon road running events. The racewalking and marathon events were held in Doha Corniche.

Janet Kisa is a Kenyan professional middle- and long-distance runner who competes in track, cross country, and road running events.

In 2015, the foremost athletics event was the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing. The two other major global level competitions in 2015 are the World Cross Country Championships and the IAAF World Relays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agnes Tirop</span> Kenyan long-distance runner (1995–2021)

Agnes Jebet Tirop was a Kenyan professional long-distance runner. She won bronze medals in the 10,000 metres at the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships. At the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Tirop became the second-youngest ever gold medallist in the women's race after Zola Budd. At the time of her death in 2021, she was the world-record holder in the 10 kilometres women's only event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships</span>

The 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships took place on 24 March 2018 in Valencia, Spain. It was the 23rd edition of the event and the 2nd time it was held in Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yemaneberhan Crippa</span> Italian long-distance runner

Yemaneberhan "Yeman" Crippa is an Ethiopian-born Italian long-distance runner. He won the gold medal in the 10,000 metres and bronze for the 5000 metres at the European Athletics Championships in 2022, and bronze in the 10,000 m in 2018. Crippa claimed four medals in the age-group races at the European Cross Country Championships and a bronze in the senior race in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 World Championships in Athletics – Women's marathon</span> Long distance running race at the 2017 World Athletics Championships

The women's marathon was one of the road events at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London. It took place on 6 August 2017 on the streets of London, and consisted of four laps of a roughly 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) course which passed several of London's landmarks. For the first time in World Championships history, the men's and women's marathons took place on the same day. The race was won by Rose Chelimo of Bahrain in 2:27:11, seven seconds ahead of Kenya's Edna Kiplagat in second. Amy Cragg of the United States finished in third, separated from Kiplagat by less than a second.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Chepng'etich</span> Kenyan track and field athlete

Ruth Chepng'etich, often spelt Ruth Chepngetich, is a Kenyan road racing athlete, who competes in the marathon and other long distance events. She was the 2019 Marathon World champion in hot and humid conditions. Chepng'etich twice won the Chicago Marathon, in 2021 and 2022. Her personal best in the marathon sits second on the world all-time list. She holds the third-fastest mark of all time for the half marathon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 World Athletics Championships – Men's marathon</span> Long distance running race at the 2019 World Athletics Championships

The men's marathon was one of the road events at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Due to the heat in Doha, the race was scheduled to begin at 23:59 on 5 October 2019. Even with the unusual timing, high temperatures were expected to provide difficult conditions for running, but in the end temperatures dropped to around 29 °C (84 °F) and 50% humidity. The race was won by Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia in 2 h 10 min 40 s, followed four seconds behind by his compatriot Mosinet Geremew. Amos Kipruto of Kenya was third in 2:10:51.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 World Athletics Championships – Women's marathon</span> Long distance running race at the 2019 World Athletics Championships

The women's marathon was one of the road events at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Due to the heat in Doha, the race was scheduled to begin at 23:59 on 27 September 2019, which made it the first midnight marathon in the history of the World Championships. Even with the unusual timing, the temperature was above 30 °C (86 °F) and the humidity over 70 per cent, making conditions difficult for running. Only 40 of the 68 entrants finished the race, which was won by Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya in 2:32.43; the slowest winning time at the World Championships. Bahrain's Rose Chelimo was second in 2:33.46, with Helalia Johannes of Namibia third in 2:34.15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrie Dimoff</span> American long-distance runner

Carrie Dimoff is an American athlete. She competed in the women's marathon event at the 2019 World Athletics Championships.

Rosemary Monica Wanjiru is a Kenyan professional female long-distance runner. She won the silver medal in the 5000 metres at the 2015 African Games, and represented her country at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, finishing fourth in the 10,000 metres. Wanjiru won the 2023 Tokyo Marathon and placed second at the 2022 Berlin Marathon. With her Tokyo mark, she sits sixth on the marathon world all-time list.

Tomas Hilifa Rainhold, is a Namibian long-distance runner. He competed in the men's marathon at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar. He finished in 17th place.

References

  1. Butler, Mark, ed. (2019). IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019: Statistics Handbook (PDF). IAAF. p. 564.
  2. 1 2 3 "IAAF announces qualifying standards for Doha 2019 World Championships". Athletics Weekly . 4 December 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Johannes takes on the world's best". The Namibian . 27 September 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. "Rainhold Thomas Qualifies for the World Championships in the Marathon". Athletics Namibia. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  5. "Namibia among a few African countries to get medals at the athletics World Championships in Doha". Athletics Namibia. 6 October 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  6. "Namibia: IAAF World Athletics Championships, Doha 2019". World Athletics . Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  7. Barclay, Simon (2020). 17th World Athletics Championships – Doha 2019: Complete Results & Athlete Reference. Silverthorn Press. p. 133. ISBN   978-0-244-86063-9.
  8. "Timetable by day: IAAF World Athletics Championships, Doha 2019". World Athletics . Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  9. Kelly, Madeleine (8 January 2019). "The World Championship marathon will be held at midnight". Canadian Running. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  10. Rowbottom, Mike (23 September 2019). "Preview: women's marathon - IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019". World Athletics. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  11. "World Athletic Championships: Chepngetich wins women's marathon". Al Jazeera . 28 September 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  12. Chowdhury, Saj (28 September 2019). "World Athletics Championships: Ruth Chepngetich wins women's marathon as heat takes toll". BBC Sport . Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  13. Schütz, Helge (30 September 2019). "Johannes makes history in Doha". The Namibian . Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  14. Barclay, Simon (2020). 17th World Athletics Championships – Doha 2019: Complete Results & Athlete Reference. Silverthorn Press. p. 140. ISBN   978-0-244-86063-9.
  15. "Tomas finishes 17th at world champs". Namibian Sun . 7 October 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  16. "Medal Table: IAAF World Athletics Championships, Doha 2019". World Athletics. Retrieved 22 June 2020.