Hesron Kapanga

Namibia Correctional Services’ (NSC) athlete David Dam once again gave his hometown fans something to cheer about when he won this year’s edition of the Erongo Powersave Street Mile at Omaruru on Saturday.

The 26-year-old hometown native was in a photo- finish alongside Wilhelm Hangula, who was on course to be crowned the new champion of the 11th edition.

However, the home favourite came from behind to retain the title he won last year with a time of 04:17.02 seconds, ahead of second-placed Hangula, who represented the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), and clocked 04:19.00.

The 800-metre (m) Namibian sprinter had to dig deep to win the 1.6-kilometre race, using his skills to come from behind with just over 200m left in the race to overtake his opponent for the win.

Hangula, who finished third last year, was followed by Cheetah Club’s Lisia Theofelus in third place, clocking 04:21.09.

In the women’s category, NDF’s veteran marathon runner Alina Armas was crowned champion after dominating a field that was full of junior athletes. 

Armas, who earlier in the race won the veteran category, clocked 04:58:06 to shrug off Lucia Anolrek from Oshikuku, who clocked a time of 04:59.06.

NSC’s Angala Tuuli came third with a time of 05:02.08.

In the junior women’s race, upcoming long-distance talent Frans Nyanyukweni of the Omusati region comfortably won the race in a time of 05:08.00, just seconds shy of the course record for the U-21s she set last year of 05:06:01.

Erongo’s Sara Shikongo was second in a time of 05:11.03 seconds, followed by Monica Kandjebo of Ohangwena, who clocked 05:16.02 in third.

In the junior men’s category, the Khomas region came in first through Fune Jerusalem, who clocked a time of 04:30.09, followed by Kavango West’s Rayno Haipindi, who ran 04:31.05 in second place. 

Simon Shifidi of Ohangwena clocked 04:36.03 in third place.

The Orapa Athletics Club of Botswana, whose athletes found the going tough against the locals, also graced the event, which attracted over 1 500 athletes from all over Namibia. For their efforts, Dam and Armas walked away with N$7 000 in cash, while Nyanyukweni and Jerusalem earned N$5 000.

Speaking after the event, organiser Bethold Karumendu said despite the challenges faced in putting together an event of such magnitude, he was happy with the attendance of supporters, athletes and sponsors. “We had a lot of youngsters. This event is all about mass participation. I am happy with the attendance. There is a lot of work in terms of improving the event so that athletes can enjoy themselves when everything is in order,” he said.

He added that the event would not have been possible without sponsors such as Erongo Powersave, First National Bank Namibia, Coca-Cola, the Municipality of Omaruru as well as the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service.

– Nampa