Windhoek
Kenyan runner Sammy Kipkoech Tum and Namibia’s Helalia Johannes won in the men and women races of the sixth annual Dr Sam Nujoma half-marathon in the capital yesterday.
The 21-km race started and ended at the Doc Jubber Hockey Field in Olympia and the winners received N$10 000 each. Tum said it felt good to win, although the road was not flat, but credit should be given to his coach for making him work hard.
Leonard Nampala, who won the race last year, came second, but was crowned Namibian half-marathon champion for the 2016 season. Uveni-Nawa Kuugongelwa, who won the race in 2014, finished third. Kuugongelwa told Nampa he was happy to finish third on the day after about a year’s absence from running competitively.
“I only started training in April and I feel great coming third today. I just want all the other marathon runners to know that I am back and what happened today was just a ‘missed call’ and it will not repeat itself. When the Old Mutual Victory race kicks off on 11 June I will be winning again. I want to qualify for the Two Oceans marathon and fly my country’s flag high,” he said.
In the women’s category, Lavinia Haitope finished second and Ottilie Haimata third. Anna Amutoko won the women’s category in 2015.
MTC sponsored the event with N$172 000, while Coca-Cola Bottling Company sponsored the athletes’ refreshments.
– Nampa