Armas, Dam beat strong opposition in Street Mile
Middle-distance running
Alina Armas competed in two 1.6 km races on Saturday, winning both. Meanwhile, the primary boys' race caused some chaos in Omaruru.
The eleventh edition of the Erongo Powersave Street Mile is done and dust, with each of the country’s 14 regions represented in Omaruru with a record total of 1612 entries and 1522 participants. Last year’s winner from Namibia Correctional Services (NCS), the 26-year-old David Dam, won the senior men’s race over 1.6 km, while Alina Armas pocketed the senior women’s title in 4 minute 58.6 seconds.
Armas earlier in the day also ran the veteran women’s race, smashing the previous meeting record of 5:29.1 by 36 seconds by clocking 4:53.2 in very hot conditions.
The first race for the primary boys was stopped after the starting gun after many non-entrants enthusiastic joined from the road side.
After the same occurred the second time, the race category was cancelled by the race director, Bethold Karumendu.
Bethold Karumendu, Erongo regional sports officer and race director, said: “I am happy that the race grows every year with more participants. Because it is one of our mass-participation events for the Ministry of Sport, Youth & National Service, the ministry has provided transport for all the athletes, even as far as from the Zambezi Region, and we are very thankful for that.
“Our main sponsors are also willing to continue sponsoring the event. Shield Namibia/Erongo Powersave Wholesale, the FNB Namibia branch at Omaruru, Coca-Cola (the official drinks sponsor) and the Omaruru municipality contributed by keeping the town ready for the visitors.
Top results
Elite women (course record 4 minutes 40 seconds)
1 Alina Armas (4:58.6) NDF, 2 Lucia Andrek (4:59.6) Omusati, 3 Tuuli Angala (5:02.8) NCS.
Elite men (record 4:06.2)
1 David Dam (4:17.02) NCS, 2 Wilhelm Hangula (4:19.0) NDF, 3 Lisia Teofilus (4:21.9) Cheetah AC.
Veteran women (record 5:29.1)
1 Alina Armas (4:53.2) NDF, 2 Beata Naigambo (5:07.2) Nampol, 3 Anna Amutoko (5:26.3) Khomas.
Veteran men (record 4:32.0)
1 Sakaria Shifotoka (4:42.4) NCS, 2 Mathew Kadhingula (4:43.7) NCS, 3 Oscar Komeya (4:48.1) NCS.
Master women (record 12:09:34)
1 Ester Mbango (6:47.5) Erongo, 2 Sieglinde Gontes (7:02.8) Swakop, 3 Emilia Naububa (7:27.8) Khomas.
Master men (record 4:37.6)
1 Salomo David (5:04.5) NCS, 2 Kristof Ndunga (5:11.5) NDF, 3 Gabriel Braz (5:16.7) Erongo.
Wheelchair men (record 3:17.1)
1 Roodley Gowaseb (4:32.3) Namib, 2 Nico Kharuxab (5:28.1) Namib, 3 Radius Katazo (8:31.5) Zambezi.
Junior women (record 5:06.1)
1 Nyanyukweni Frans (5:08.0) Omusati, 2 Sara Shikongo (5:11.3) Erongo, 3 Monica Kandjebo (5:16.2) Ohangwena.
Junior men (record 4:26.8)
1 Jerusalem Fune (4:30.9) Khomas, 2 Rayno Haipindi (4:31.5) Kavango West, 3 Simon Shifidi (4:36.2) Ohangwena.
Primary school girls (record 5:34.5)
1 Sholastic Silas (5:38.2) Omusati, 2 Loide Autenya (5:40.5) Omusati, 3 Felicity Esau (5:42.4) Omaheke.
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