Long-distance runner Rainhold Tomas has been selected as one of the three Namibian athletes to participate in the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, from 19 to 27 August.
The two other athletes, Helalia Johannes and Lionel Coetzee, were confirmed by Athletics Namibia (AN) president Erwin Naimhwaka as Namibia’s representatives.
Tomas’s qualifying time of 2 hours, 10 minutes and 25 seconds (2:10:25s) secured his spot, even though he had come second behind Daniel Paulus, who achieved a time of 2:8:39s. Originally, Paulus was to represent Namibia at the World Championships, but he cannot participate because he is currently undergoing training at the Namibia Correctional Service.
In an interview with New Era Sport, Tomas expressed his excitement to proudly wave his country’s flag on the international stage.
“This is a big competition, and I am eagerly looking forward to it. Representing my country on such a grand stage has always been a dream, and I am determined to make the most of this chance – both for myself and for Namibia,” he said.
Having previously qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 39-year-old athlete recognises that this championship also serves as a pathway to secure a spot in next year’s esteemed tournaments.
“My primary goal for this event is to achieve an exceptional performance and secure a place at the prestigious Paris tournament next year. Although my last Olympic experience posed challenges, it provided valuable lessons that have fuelled my drive to succeed,” he said. Tomas has been thoroughly preparing for the competition, adhering to a rigorous training routine, which includes participating in various marathon competitions. Recently, he excelled in the Vivo Marathon that was held in Windhoek over the weekend, which bolstered his confidence for the forthcoming championships, where he finished fifth.
The Vivo Marathon was won by Enock Haufiku in a time of 2:34:39s in the men’s 42-kilometre category.
“We are proud to send our athletes to the competition – and currently, three have secured their spots. The qualifying window will close today,” Naimhwaka said.