Armas wins Southern Region Half Marathon Champs

Saturday, 4 October Athletics Namibia was privileged to host the Southern Region of the Confederation of African Athletics Half Marathon Championships at Swakopmund.

The event was run in conjunction with the Lucky Star Marathon’s half marathon with no less than 39 athletes from nine countries from the region competing.

The runners set off together with the Lucky Star entrants in both the half marathon over 21,095km and the 10km runners, making a total of 250 runners on the road. The event started below the tennis courts close to the Lighthouse with the athletes setting off at 07h00.

The South African men dominated the event with the first five finishers but in the women’s event, Namibia’s own Alina Armas took the honours almost two minutes ahead of her strongest rival from South Africa.

The team event, where the first four finishers of a country are added together with the team with the lowest total being the winners, was contested between South Africa and Namibia as none of the remaining seven countries were able to field at least four athletes in either of the two categories.

In the men’s team, the result was a foregone conclusion with so many of the South Africans in the top positions but in the women’s event it was a victory for Namibia by a matter of a few seconds.

“Athletics Namibia is rightly very proud of their lady champion, Alina Armas and the ladies team made up of Alina Armas, Anna Amutoko, Helena Iipinge, Ottilie Aimwata, Ndahambelele Shelikita and, Josef Mweuya-Ehafo, who all helped to hold the name of Namibia high,” Athletics Namibia stated in a press release.

The route had been measured by Pieter de Jager from Athletics South Africa, an Association of International Marathons and Distance Races Level “A Route Measurer” just the week prior to the event and certified as correct.

“At the prize giving ceremony the South African flag was displayed and the anthem sung by the athletes and management of the team with a few Namibians who knew the words. When it was the turn of the Namibian ladies to take the podium, all the Namibians present stood up and sang our national anthem with gusto. It was a pleasure to see and hear this and we sincerely hope a lasting impression was made on the young athletes that had taken part in the schools relay to inspire them to work harder to attain positions as elite athletes,” the press release read.

Gideon Mthembu, the Technical Delegate and representative of the Southern Region who was appointed by the committee to see that all went well, expressed his satisfaction that the event was properly managed and presented.

Alna Similo, President of Athletics Namibia delivered an inspirational short speech aimed at the male athletes of Namibia and, especially the youth, who are the elite athletes of tomorrow.

“We are exceedingly grateful to Lucky Star and Etosha Fishing who graciously allowed us to host the international event together with their premier road running event, even inviting the international athletes and their management to join the Pasta Supper at the Etosha Fishing factory on the Friday evening,” Athletics Namibia stated.

The results are attached.

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