Salomo David of Welwitchia 77 Athletics Club won the Rossing National Marathon Championships for the third time in Swakopmund on February 26.
David pulled away from Tuhafeni Petrus about 3km before the end to win in a time of 2:22:28. Petrus came second in 2:23:48, while Luketz Swartbooi came third in 2:26:18.
It was David?s second successive victory, following his first win in 2001, while his winning time was a personal best. It was, however, still a long way off Swartbooi?s national record of 2:11:23 that he established when he won the 1992 Rossing Marathon.
Swartbooi could, however, only win the Rossing Marathon on one more occasion, in 1999, while David has been dominant since then.
Beata Naigambo managed to stave off a challenge by defending champion Racher Akukothela to win the senior women?s category in 3:04:22. Akukothela came second in 3:04:46 and Lola de Meyer third in 3:47:20.
There were 54 entrants for the marathon with 47 completing the 42,2km course. There were 88 entries for the 10km run with 79 finishers, while six out of seven walkers completed the 10km course.
The complete results were as follows:
42km marathon:
Open men
1. Salomon David 2:22:28
2. Tuhafeni Petrus 2:23:48
3. Luketz Swartbooi 2:26:18
4 Walter Akafingo 2:34:09
Open women
1. Beata Naigambo 3:04:22
2. Racher Akukothela 3:04:46
3. Lola de Meyer 3:47:20
Veteran men
1. Johannes Gawaxamab 2:55:40
2. Achim Herma 3:05:22
3. Johan Coetzee 3:13:49
Masters men
1. John Cuff 3:30:04
2. Ashley Zolkov 4:04:07
3. Hennie Fourie 4:20:50
Masters women
1. Antionette Fourie 4:20:50
10km Run
Open men
1. Reinhold Iita 30:43
2. Frans Hosea 30:53
3. Robert Kaxuxuena 31:13
4. Pierewit Wilders 34:27
Open women
1. Helena Iipinge 36:48
2. Heleria Johannes 36:59
3. Sophia Swiegers 42:46
Veteran men
1. Robert de Klerk 38:32
2. Petrus Mattheus 39:02
3. Herman Viljoen 41:52
Veteran women
1. Louise Landers 52:43
2. Sharon Barnard 53:31
3. Jane Liebenberg 56:24
Grand masters men
1. Brian Phillips 59:58
2. Dr. Joachim Hildebrant 1:04:45
Masters men
1. Bob Tangeni 37:58
Masters women
1. Wilma van Niekerk 58:50
Junior men
1. David Thomas 31:07
2. Ellen Katambo 33:35
3. Paulus Shimondi 33:55
Junior women
1. Grecia Shimaneni 40:41
2. Lucia Megameno Komeya 41:12
3. Julia Shimondi 44:18
10km Walk
Open men
1 Mathias Mutota 52:46
2. Willem Katana 52:47
3 Lukas Litonga 1:00:20
Open women
1. Laurencia Elario 01:07:27