Namibia’s T11 female sprinter Lahja Ishitile and her guide Sem Shimanda reached the final of the women’s T11 400 metres (m) race after once again setting a new African record.
Ishitile and Shimanda, while competing at the 2023 Paris World Para Athletics Championships ran a new Area Record of 58.38 seconds which replaces the one set by them on Sunday night of 58.46 seconds.
This was a new African record from their previous record of 58.97 seconds, which was set by them while competing at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games in Brazil.
On Monday night the pair finished second in heat two behind Thalita Simplicio of Brazil and her guide Felipe Veloso who ran the fastest time of 56.78 seconds which was her personal best and the best time from all the two heats held on the day.
Despite finishing second in her heat, Ishitile qualified for the final as she ran the second fastest time from all the two heats.
Only the heat winner and the fastest loser from the two heats progressed to the final slated for Tuesday evening at the Charlety Stadium in Paris, France.
Meanwhile, other Namibians also expected to compete on Tuesday are T11 male sprinters Chris Kinda and his guide Riwaldo Goagoseb as well as Ananias Shikongo and his guide Even Tjiuiju, who will compete in the semi-finals of the 400m.
T13 sprinter Johannes Nambala is also expected to compete in the heats of the 100m on Tuesday.
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.
The major international multi-sport event involves athletes with a range of disabilities and is governed by the IPC.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency