T11 male Paralympic sprinters Chris Kinda and his guide Riwaldo Goagoseb and Ananias Shikongo and his guide Even Tjiuiju on Monday morning progressed to the semi-finals of the men’s T11 400 metres (m) after winning their heats.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) 2023 World Para Athletics Championships are underway in Paris, France, with over 1 300 athletes from 107 nations competing for 168 medals.
On Monday morning Shikongo and his guide Tjiuiju were the first Namibian athletes to open the track events and ran a time of 52.82 seconds which won them their heat while their teammates Kinda and Goagoseb also won their heat with a time of 52.44 seconds to see both runners progressing to the semi-finals.
The fastest time from the four heats was recorded by Spanish runner Gerard Descarrega and his guide Guillermo Gil Rojo who clocked a time of 51.25 seconds which was his seasonal best, while Brazilian runner Felipe de Souza Gomes and his guide Jonas de Lima Silva also ran a seasonal best of 51.47 seconds – the second fastest time of the day in that category.
Home favourite Timothee Adolphe and his guide Jeffrey Lami clocked the third fastest time from all the heats as they won their heat with a time of 51.63 seconds which was also their seasonal best.
Only the heat winner and the fastest loser from the four heats progressed to the semi-finals slated for Tuesday morning from 10h25 local time.
Meanwhile, another Namibian expected to compete on Monday evening is T11 400m African women’s record holder Lahja Ishitile and her guide Sem Shimanda who will compete in the semi-finals of the women’s 400m at 21h12.
The major international multi-sport event involves athletes with a range of disabilities and is governed by the International Paralympic Committee.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency