KARIBIB – Long-distance runners from the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) showcased their prowess at the 10th edition of the QKR Namibia Navachab half-marathon:Long-distance runners from the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) showcased their prowess at the 10th edition of the QKR Namibia Navachab half-marathon, seizing victories in multiple categories. NCS athlete Paulus Daniel and Namibian Police Force runner Lavinia Haitope emerged as champions in their respective categories in the event held in Karibib on Saturday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, over 700 athletes participated in the competitive 21-kilometer race, along with the 10km race and the five-kilometer fun walk and run. Daniel, representing NCS, clinched the men’s main race title with an impressive time of one hour, four minutes, and 38 seconds (01:04:38). Following him were last year’s winner, Jeremia Shaliaxwe of NamPol, with a time of 01:06:50, and Reinhold Thomas of NCS, who completed the race in 01:07:56.
In the women’s category, Hai
tope dominated with a finishing time of 01:16:37. NCS’s Martha Shivolo, the previous year’s winner, came in second with a time of 01:16:57, while Alina Armas from the Namibian Defence Force finished third with a time of 01:19:35.
Post-race, Daniel expressed his satisfaction and excitement at securing the title for the second time. He noted the competitive spirit and the challenging new route, which included windy conditions and a steep hill at the start, as factors that added to the day’s excitement. Haitope also commented on the route’s challenges and mentioned that the race served as a preparation for the upcoming Cape Town marathon.
The event also saw remarkable performances in the 10km women’s run where Helalia Johannes (NDF) took first place, followed by Lucia Lyaalukeni (NCS) and Aina Beata Jeremiah. In the men’s category, Simon Paulus (NCS) secured the first position with Teofilus Lisias and Thomas Shigwedha (NCS) trailing close behind.
Berthold Karumendu, the race director and Sports Officer in the
Ministry of Sport in the Erongo Region, shared his ambitions for the future of the race. He aims to elevate the Navachab half-marathon to an international level and is in talks with Region Five to potentially take over the race to attract more international participants.
