Armas beat Nuukonga to win Citi Dash
Road running
Around 2 300 keen runners took part in the Nedbank CitiDash road race in the capital yesterday morning.The highlight of the event was definitely the 10 kilometres for elite women and men, elite under 18 girls and boys, as well as elite wheelchair racers and elite visually impaired athletes. This race started first, at 07:30 from the Zoo Park in Independence Avenue.
The competition, which was presented for the first time in four years since 2019, can without hesitation be described as a huge success. The event was excellently organized with all aspects 100 percent in place.
With much anticipation and excitement, the non-elite participants lined up after the elite athletes for the 5 and 10 kilometer fun races. Parents with their babies in prams, or with dogs on leashes were part of the festive atmosphere that prevailed.
Namibia’s top wheelchair racer and champion, Roodley Gowaseb, made his mark and covered the 10 km in 31 minutes 18 seconds, followed by Nico Kharuxab in 34:62, with Petrus Karvii third in 36:63.
Gowaseb, who did not appear to be tired at all, said after the competition: “It was a nice race, because it is a flat route. I train five days a week and I’m very fit. Only going up the Simon de Witt bridge offered a challenge, but beyond that it’s child’s play.”
Although the two visually impaired Olympic sprint medalists are not long-distance athletes, Johannes Nambala and Ananias Shikongo proved where their hearts lie. Nambala beat Shikongo with 50:30 for first place, while his friend finished second in 50:50.
Monika Kandjebo (37:20) won the elite under-18 division for girls. She was chased by Linda Hailuli (second in 41:39) with Maja Brinkmann third (43:45).
Brinkmann took the lead during the first part of the race, but her pace was possibly too fast and she was overtaken by both Kandjebo and Hailuli.
The division for elite U18 boys was impressively won by Matt-Reece Izaaks with 36:47. Ethan Brinkmann achieved a second place (39:38). The third position was taken by Drivahlyo Coetzee in 40:19.
Elite women
In the elite senior women, an exhausted Shivola Nuukonga shook off Alina Armas and Beata Jeremia over the last part of the race for first place.
Nuukonga finished in 35:06, Armas with 35:39 and Jeremiah in 37:46. Armas recently represented Namibia in the marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest where she finished 49th.
After getting her breath back for the media interview, Nuukonga said: “I usually run the 10 km in about 33 minutes, but today I was slower. I haven’t been training often lately, but still I’m happy with the result.”
Simon Matias (30:35), Jeremia Shaliaxwe (30:42) and Tomas Rainhold (31:11) dominated the elite senior men’s division in that order. These three runners chased each other hard, until Rainhold just didn’t have the speed to keep up with the front two runners.
Rainhold, a 2021 Olympian in Tokyo, was also involved in the recent world championships’ marathon in Budapest, where he finished 54th.
Matias said afterwards: “I enjoyed the race and will definitely be back next year. I’m happy to win. The other two men are fast, but with the right tactics I was able to beat them to the finish line.”
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