Hundreds of Namibians traverse Cape Town streets
Road running
Among approximately 17 000 entries for the 21 km, and thousands more in the ultra-marathon, the Namibian presence has been growing.
A stunning number of well over 800 Namibians competed in Cape Town’s iconic Two Oceans road running events on the weekend, which included the 56 km ultra-marathon on Saturday and the popular 21 km event on Sunday morning.According to the official results page, Titus Elago (Windhoek City Runners) appears to be the first Namibian finisher of the 56 km distance. Elago’s finishing time of 4 hours 08 minutes 52 seconds placed him 263rd in the overall race, and 95th in his age class (40 to 49 years).
Frans Amakali of Windhoek Harriers was the next Namibian in 4:24:19, followed by Lazarus Kautondokwa (4:36:11) and Simon Modestus (4:36:26).
The first Namibian finisher of the 21 km run was Michelle van Niekerk in 1 hour 28 minutes 39 seconds, which placed her overall 201st, and 26th of the senior women.
Joshua Titus and Braam Visser (no club indicated for either) were the next compatriots in the half-marathon, finishing in 1:33:31 (overall 324th) and 1:31:36 (overall 328th), respectively.
Some of the top results by Windhoek Harriers Running Club athletes:
56 KILOMETRES
1 Frans Amakali (age 43, veteran) 4:24:19.
2 Heiko Reiff (age 45, veteran) 4:54:54.
3 Brett Strydom (age 35) 5:02:12.
4 Marion Schonecke (age 46) 5:26:23.
5 Ananias Shilongo (age 41, veteran) 5:39:50
6 Herman Dulinai Simon (age 40) 5:50:19.
7 Gert du Preez (age 42, veteran) 5:55:58)
8 Jafet Kagolo Abraham (age 44, veteran) 5:57:32.
9 Philip van Schalkwyk (age 53, 6:00:36).
10 Heidi Greyvenstein (age 50, master) 6:12:46.
11 Lieze Kruger (age 35) 6:16:55.
12 Johann Archer (age 56) 6:31:48.
13 Achim Herma (age 68) 6:37:22.
14 Philipp Sonntag (age 51) 6:39:32.
15 Japie Greyvenstein (age 49) 6:48:27.
21 KILOMETRES
1 Jason Travis Maasdorp (age 32) 1:47:20.
2 Kevin James Loteryman (age 33) 1:52:27.
3 Lazarus Shikesho (age 34) 1:55:21.
4 Israel Johannes (age 41, veteran) 1:57:07.
5 Achim Herma (age 68, grand master) 2:01:52.
6 Johannes du Plessis (age 51) 2:04:53.
7 Derick Loteryman (age 63, grand master) 2:05:41.
8 Monica Loteryman (age 35) 2:07:08.
9 Nicola Steyl (age 41) 2:11:02.
10 Udo Stehle (age 37) 2:13:07.
OVERALL ACHIEVERS
Khoarahlane Seutloali became the first runner from Lesotho to take the top step of the 56 km men’s podium on Saturday, winning in 3 hours 10 minutes 46 seconds.
Last year he was eigth in this race, and second in the Soweto Marathon, but this time he overcame the challenge of South Africans Siboniso Sikhakhane, Lucky Mohale and Nkhosikhona Mhlakwana.
South Africa’s 35-year-old running queen Gerda Steyn won the Two Oceans ultra-marathon for the sixth time in a row, and although she did not beat her existing record in the race, her winning time of 3 hours 29 minutes 10 seconds is still the third-fastest in its history.
Seutloali and Steyn each earned R250 000 with their victories.
William Kaptein (32, of Cape Town) won the 21 km men’s race in 1:04:41, while Kenya’s Mercy Jebet Kibor won the women’s half-marathon (1:17:06) on her first entry.