EENHANA – The annual Charles Namholo Marathon was launched last week at Helao Nafidi Town Council offices and is expected to attract top athletes from across the northern regions.
According to the Minister of Works and Transport, Erikki Nghimtina, who officially launched the marathon, about 72 athletes, including 16 with disabilities will participate in the marathon that will be winding its way from Tsumeb to Oshivelo this coming Saturday. “We want all runners of any ability to be given the chance to get involved especially the youths, regardless of where they live and in doing so, crossing the finishing line on their own. We should also applaud this visionary young man Gabriel Shokonawa and his team for their efforts in making this marathon an annual event,” Nghimtina said.
The marathon is also aimed at raising awareness in the fight against gender-based violence, the HIV pandemic, as well as the promotion of the physical wellbeing of participants.
The 42.2km marathon also includes 21km, 10km, 5km and 4km races. Event organizer, Shokonawa said winners will win gold, silver and bronze medals with 6 trophies at stake, while a total of N82 000 has been donated by some companies towards the hosting of this year’s event.
Prize money for the overall winner in the 42.2km race is N$2 000 plus a trophy, while the runner-up will receive a consolation prize of N$1000 with the 3rd placed finisher taking home N$750. In the 21km race, the overall winner will collect N$1 100, with N$800 and N$500 set aside for the 2nd and 3rd placed finishers. Winners in the 10km race will fight it out for N$600, N$ 400 and N$300 in that order.
Apart from active athletes, other participants include several high profile government and other public officials, including Erastus Utoni, Ret Major-General Charles Namoloh, Erikki Nghimtina, mayor of Helao Nafidi, Paulus Haikali and mayor of Eenhana, Julia Shikongo.
Some of the participants have been drawn from Odela farm where many members of the San community are employed. The event attracted 202 athletes last year with 197 crossing the finishing line.
This year’s event saw companies, individuals and organisations among them the Namibia Women In Sport Association (Nawisa), the Helao Nafidi Town Council, SP Brick Warehouse-Ongwediva, OK Mini Market, headmen Wandja and Joseph Holongo, Oshikango Garage and councillor Erickson Ndawanifwa donating in cash and kind to make up the total sponsorship of N$ 82 000.
By Clemence Tashaya