Westside makes waves at Zonal athletics

Mariselle Stofberg
James-Dean Goagoseb

Zonals the second phase of the school athletics season. It is where the best athletes from the same zone which are in the Welwitschia Schools Sport Zone, meet after their interhouse athletics to battle it out to make it to the Regionals.

And this year seven athletes from Westside High School have qualified to take part in the zonals this year namely: Rulof Kamapunga for 100 and 200 meters, Elden Hiskia who unfortunately didn’t take part due to injury, Visagie Cielyen for 100 and 200 meters, Wedley Tsumib for 100 and 200 meters, Sabrino Swartz for High Jump, Fernando Geiseb for 800 and 1500 meters and Long Jump, Emulous Jonas for 1500 meters, and Najima Forbes for Shot Put.

After asking few of the competitors about their experience this is what some of them had to say, “I enjoyed the zonals, due to the sportsmanship and the respect that the athletes have to one another. Also, to the atmosphere you get at the stadium when competing is like no other I've been too, especially from the crowed which pushes you too keep on going. This was evident in my 800meter race that I wanted to stop but the audience engagement motivated me to finish and even come in second.” Said Fernando Geiseb. Sabrino Swartz had this to say, “Even though it wasn’t my first zonals, it was special to me since it was my last zonals and I made sure to make the best of it. So, I made too sure to beat my personal best height in high jump and I achieved that even though I came out second I still beat my Personal best and jumped an amazing 1.71 meters.”

Also asking one of teachers relatively involved in school athletics this is what Mr William Innes had to say, “I am proud of all the learners of this school, who had qualified for this event and how high they held the name of our school by performing exceptionally well over that weekend.”

With the Zonals coming to an end, few of the athletes who were fortunate enough to make it through to the next phase which is the regionals had to focus more and train harder to be able to excel the same way they did at the zonals and the regionals.