WINDHOEK: Namibian marathon runner Helalia Johannes ended 12th overall in the London 2012 Olympic Games women’s marathon race on Sunday.
Johannes clocked two hours 26 minutes and nine seconds (2:26:09), and broke the Namibian national record of 2:27:20 that she set in Vienna, Austria in April this year.
Her compatriot, Beata Naigambo, ended 38th overall in a time of 2:31:16.
Both participated in the previous Olympic Games staged in Beijing, China in 2010. Johannes ended 40th and Naigambo 28th after a few difficulties before the race.
This year’s women’s marathon was won by Ethiopia’s Tiki Gelana in a time of 2:23:07, followed by Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya (2:23:12) and Russia’s Tatyana Petrova Arkhipova (2:23:29).
Meanwhile, Namibian 400m sprinter Tjipekapora Herunga also fell out of the Olympic Games when she ended sixth in Heat One of the 400m sprint for women on Saturday evening.
Other Namibian athletes now out of the 2012 Olympics are cyclist Dan Craven, boxers Mejandjae Kasuto and Jonas Mathews, and shottist Gaby Ahrens.
Namibia’s last two competitors left in the Olympics are wrestler Sem Shilimela, who will be in action on Friday in the 55kg men’s Freestyle competition, and Marc Bassinghtwaighte in mountain bike cycling on Sunday.