Fast times as Armas and Sakaria claim Vivo Energy marathon
Road running
Daniel Paulus clocked the fastest time in the 10 km road race in Namibian history, surpassing another Luketz Swartbooi record.
Alina Armas and Tangeni Sakaria on Saturday morning won the Vivo Energy Windhoek Marathon, with their winning times 2 hours 54 minutes 26 seconds and 2:25:18, respectively. Lavinia Haitope with 1:17:57 and Stephanus Kaudinge in 1:09:37 took the gold medals in the 21.1 kilometer race.
Daniel Paulus in 27:45 and Shilongo Shivolomwene with 34:41 secured victories in the 10 km dicipline.
Sakaria finished nine minutes 22 seconds faster than last year’s winner, Enock Haufiku, 2:34:40), setting a new event record. Haufiku this year finished third in 3:06:14, behind former Olympian Tomas Rainhold (second in 2:29:23).
Armas could not beat her 2023 time of 2:48:58. The experienced road runner was unhappy about poor route marking and got lost while she tried to figure out where the route is suppose to be.
Kaudinge in the 21.1 km race came close to Jeremia Shaliaxwe’s 2023 time, missing out by 13 seconds. Shaliaxwe last year took the honours in 1:09:24.
Haitope ran a blistering race, flying effortlessly in the late chilly May air like a hot knife through butter. She cut a massive 11 minutes 42 seconds from Leena Ekandjo’s winning time of 1:29:00 from 2023.
Four-time Olympian Helalia Johannes also had a brilliant outing in the veterans 21.1 km race by clocking 1:20:19 for victory.
The 10 km race in the Male Open Category probably delivered the most spectacular results by Daniel Paulus. The unstoppable Paulus sprinted through the finish-line with 27:45 on the stop watch.
Paulus shatterd the 2023 10 km record of Matias Simon (32:22) by four minutes 37 seconds. The Namibian national 10 km road race record (27:51) of Luketz Swartbooi that he registered in March 1994, could also be in danger. It will require confirmation by Athletics Namibia (AN) to recognise the record time Paulus achieved on Saturday.
Acknowledgement from AN would make Paulus the Namibian record holder in the marathon (2:08:40), half-marathon (1:01:10) and 10 km road race.
• Top three results per category, as supplied by the organisers:
Marathon
Open men: 1 Tangeni Sakaria (2:25:19), 2 Tomas Rainhold (2:29:23), 3 Enock Haufiku (3:06:14).
Open women: 1 Lindie Adriaanse (3:50:22), 2 Maike Epler (4:00:19), 3 Corné Verwey (4:17:37).
Veteran women (overall first): 1 Alina Armas (2:54:27), 2 Beata Naigambo (2:59:23), 3 Ottillie Aaimwata (3:05:13).
Veteran men: 1 Paulus Iiyambo (2:35:23), 2 Jason Johannes (2:39:06), 3 Sakaria Shifotoka (2:54:25).
Master women: 1 Shino Elizabeth (4:32:31).
Master men: 1 Kristof Ndunga (3:05:09), 2 Alex Kanu (3:39:22), 3 Immanuel Alugongo (4:31:47).
Grand master women: 1 Mary-Ann Swarts (4:32:07).
Wheelchair men: 1 Roodly Gowaseb (2:50:51), 2 Nico Kharuxab (3:52:05).
21.1 km half-marathon
Open women: 1 Lavinia Haitope (1:17:58), 2 Jocelle Wessels (1:40:57), 3 Jolyndé Human (1:44:04).
Open men: 1 Stephanus Kaudinge (1:09:38), 2 Matias Simon (1:09:49), 3 Wilhelm Hangula (1:11:33).
Veteran women: 1 Helalia Johannes (1:20:19), 2 Saartjie Ausiku (1:43:25), 3 Bernadette Swartz (2:06:02).
Veteran men: 1 Simon Shipingana (1:17:46), 2 Frans Amakali (1:31:45), 3 Peter Ikondja (1:31:46).
Master women: 1 Shani Erlank (1:55:05), 2 Emilia Nambahu (2:00:20), 3 Denise Weideman (2:19:38).
Master men: 1 Gabriel Braz (1:32:11), 2 Bolla Akwenye (1:35:36), 3 Erasmus Frans (1:36:00).
Grand master men: Derick Loteryman (1:51:23), 2 Achim Herma (2:12:38).
Junior men: 1 Regnald Vanyana (1:26:21).
Differently abled men: 1 Salmon Kambunga (1:55:26).
10 km road race
Open women: 1 Shilongo Shivolomwene (34:42), 2 Beata Jeremia (35:38), 3 Hanneke Maritz (38:28).
Open men: 1 Daniel Paulus (27:46), 2 Simon Paulus (28:01), 3 Godlieb Shipena (35:39).
Junior women: 1 Raica Coelho (58:33), 2 Lucia Nghipandulwa (1:01:24), 3 Saaraphina Antsino (1:19:56).
Junior men: 1 Quinton Sipholine (36:19), 2 Fule Hamitiwa (37:19), 3 Lucas Sere (39:08).
Veteran women: 1 Ndemufayo Angula (51:34), 2 Linda Shininge (52:01), 3 Gaby Ahrens (59:27).
Veteran men: 1 Salomo David (34:39), 2 Matheus Kadhingula (38:13), 3 Oscar Komeya (38:41).
Master women: 1 Olímpia Do Espirito Santo (59:01),
2 Delene Schutte (59:18), 3 Brigitte Hollick (1:01:55).
Master men: 1 Joseph Amon (53:04), 2 Martin Diekmann (56:29), 3 Haufiku Kalomho (1:01:15).
Grand master women: 1 Lydia Lehoho (1:06:08), 2 Margaret du Plessis (1:12:12), 3 Paschalia Muhoho Minni (1:16:16).
Grand master men: 1 Roelof Pahl (46:24), 2 Karl Heinz Minz (1:02:34), 3 Colin de la Harpe (1:08:34).
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