The Rio Tinto Rossing Marathon Championships, organised by Swakop Striders, will take place for the 19th consecutive year in Swakopmund on Saturday, 20 February.
In its continuous bid to support the event, Rio Tinto Rossing Uranium has significantly increased the prize money from previous years. This year a total of N$60 000 in prize money will be available with the men and women’s marathon winners each receiving N$10 000.
In addition to generous financial rewards for category winners, t-shirts will be issued to all entrants in the marathon as well as the 10km run, while the first three athletes in the various categories will receive medals.
All eyes will be on Erich Goeieman of Walvis Bay Road Runners, to see if he can make it three in a row, after winning the marathon in 2008 and 2009.
Other top contenders include Pineas Embashu, Paulus Iiyambo and Reinhold Iita.
The favourites amongst the women will be Helalia Johannes and Beata Naigambo, if they participate.
Besides the full 42km marathon, athletes will also be able to enter the 10km run. Athletes can enter in the following categories for both the marathon and the 10km run:
Men’s Open (age 20-39) and Women’s Open (20-34);
Veteran Men (40-49) and Veteran Women (35-49)
Masters (over 50)
Grand Masters (over 60);
Junior category in the 10km race (12-19).
The marathon and the 10km run will both start at 07h00 at the parking area below Café Anton, next to the Swakopmund Tennis Club and the Swakopmund Museum.
Entries will be accepted at the starting point on Friday, 19 February from 18h00 to 21h00 and from 06h00 to 06h45 on the morning of the event. The entrance fee is N$30 for the marathon and N$20 for the 10km event.
Both races will follow the same route along Am Zoll, Sudstrand and Rhode Allee and out on the main road to Henties Bay and back, with the finish at the same place where the race started.
The 5km charity walk for the Cancer Association of Namibia starting at 09h00, will be hosted for the sixth year in a row. It is open to all members of the public and promises to draw a large number of walkers.
In this fun-filled event there will be various prizes for the best dressed walker, youngest and oldest walkers and the walker with the most interesting hat. The entrance fee is N$10 per walker with the proceeds going to the Cancer Association of Namibia. Entries will be taken from 08h30 at the start while the prize giving event is scheduled for 10h30.