Namibians complete tough Comrades Marathon in SA

NAMIBIAN marathon runners recently competed at the gruelling 2008 Comrades Ultra Marathon in Durban South Africa.

A total of six Namibian runners completed the 84 kilometre race in under 10 hours. Joe Absai from Welwitschia Athletics Club was the first Namibian to cross the line when he clocked 09 hours, 44,16 minutes, followed by Willem Andries from the Golden Cheetah Athletics Club who came home in 09 hours, 54,00 minutes.Absai remarkably competed at the event for the 10th consecutive time, while it was the second such event for Andries.The first Namibian female was Sieglinde Gontes from Swakop Striders, who clocked 10 hours, 06,20 minutes.The race was also the second ever for Gontes, who, vowing that she will win it next year, ended in the top 20 in her 30-39 age group category.Gontes is sponsored by the Janine and Davin Sport Trust and they covered her transport and accommodation fees for the event.All the competitors who finished the race received medals, but the winner of the overall race is reported to have earned over N$250 000 in prize-money.The top ten finishers are also compensated, with the 10th spot finisher getting about N$11 000.Other runners were Marcelle van Rensburg, Bettie du Plessis and Cecillie Blom, all from Windhoek Harriers.For Du Plessis and Blom, it was also their second participation in the Comrades.Yesterday, Andries expressed thanks to all the companies that made their trip possible and appealed for more to support marathon athletes.Joe Absai from Welwitschia Athletics Club was the first Namibian to cross the line when he clocked 09 hours, 44,16 minutes, followed by Willem Andries from the Golden Cheetah Athletics Club who came home in 09 hours, 54,00 minutes.Absai remarkably competed at the event for the 10th consecutive time, while it was the second such event for Andries.The first Namibian female was Sieglinde Gontes from Swakop Striders, who clocked 10 hours, 06,20 minutes.The race was also the second ever for Gontes, who, vowing that she will win it next year, ended in the top 20 in her 30-39 age group category.Gontes is sponsored by the Janine and Davin Sport Trust and they covered her transport and accommodation fees for the event.All the competitors who finished the race received medals, but the winner of the overall race is reported to have earned over N$250 000 in prize-money.The top ten finishers are also compensated, with the 10th spot finisher getting about N$11 000.Other runners were Marcelle van Rensburg, Bettie du Plessis and Cecillie Blom, all from Windhoek Harriers.For Du Plessis and Blom, it was also their second participation in the Comrades.Yesterday, Andries expressed thanks to all the companies that made their trip possible and appealed for more to support marathon athletes.