Rössing Uranium will present a milestone 21st consecutive Rössing Namibia Marathon Championship in Swakopmund on Saturday, 18 February 2012. The event, which this year again includes the popular 10 km Race and Charity Walk for cancer, will be organised by the Swakop Striders Athletics Club and staged at the Swakopmund Athletics Stadium in Vineta.
The prize money for the 2012 Rössing Namibia Marathon Championship will again total over N$60 000, with the marathon winners in the Men's and Ladies' Open categories walking away with N$10 000 in cash each. The winners will also qualify for an additional Development Bonus worth N$20 000 per athlete that will allow Rössing Uranium to assist in the development of the respective athletes' careers over the rest of the 2012 season.
Over and above the generous prizes for category winners in the marathon event, the prize money for the 10km Run has also been increased for 2012, giving our athletes an opportunity to get due reward for their efforts over the shorter distance as well. All entrants will further be spoiled with branded T-Shirts that will be issued during registration for the marathon and the 10km Run.
Last year's Rössing Namibia Marathon Championship winner in the Ladies' Open category (02:57:25) and London 2012 qualifier, Helaria Johannes, confirmed that she will be back to defend her title this year, while her Namibia Defence Force (NDF) teammate and last year's Men's Open winner, Pinehas Embashu, who registered a personal best time (2:25:58) last year, will also be back to try and make it two in a row. The marathon record is still held by Luketz Swartbooi who ran it in 2:11:23 in 1992.
Every year the best roadrunners from all over Namibia come to participate in this prestigious event on the Namibian athletics calendar and after international interest in the event, groups from as far as Germany have also packed their bags for Namibia to come and showcase their talents on African soil. For Namibians, this is one of the last events where runners can qualify for the big South African long distance events later in the year.
The popular 10km Run, dominated by the hard working NDF athletes in 2011, will be a popular race again with tough competition and exciting finishes. The 10km Run is a popular choice, not only for professional athletes, but also for running enthusiasts of different ages and members of the general public who find the 42.2km of a full marathon too daunting.
Runners can enter in the following categories:
Men's Open - ages 20-39
Ladies' Open - 20-39
Veteran Men - 40-49
Veteran Ladies - 40-49
Masters - 50-59
Grand Masters - 60+
Juniors (for 10km Run only) - ages 12-19
Entries will be taken at the starting point on Friday, 17 February from 18:00 to 21:00 in the evening and again from 06:00 to 06:45 on the morning of the event at the Swakopmund Athletics Stadium in Welwitschia Street, Vineta.
Entry fees are N$60 (N$100 for non-SADC runners) for the marathon and N$30 (N$60 for non-SADC runners) for the 10km Run.
The marathon and 10km Run will start at 07:00.
Both the Marathon and 10 km Run will follow the same route, from the stadium onto the road to Henties Bay and back with the finish at the same place where the race started on the tartan track at the stadium.
Water points will be set up approximately three kilometres apart and there will be sufficient marshals along the route to see to traffic control.
Uranium mines 10km Team Relay event
This year, the 10km Team Relay event will be open to employees and contractors from the different uranium mines companies in the region. Each of the four runners in a team runs 2.5km. The entry fee for this popular team event is N$40-00 per team, starting with the main race at 07:00.
The official prize-giving ceremony for the marathon, 10km Run and team event starts shortly after the official cut-off time at 12:00.
Various prizes in the 5km Charity Walk for the Cancer Association of Namibia
A 5km Charity Walk for the Cancer Association of Namibia, starting at 09:00 (entry from 08:30 at the event), will be hosted for the 8th year in a row. It is open to ALL and promises to draw a large number of walkers in aid of cancer.
In this fun event there will be various prizes in categories varying form the Best dressed walker, Tallest walker, Youngest & oldest walkers to the walker with the Most Interesting Hat. The entry fee is N$10 per walker with the proceeds being donated to the Cancer Association of Namibia. The prize-giving event for the Charity Walk starts at 10:30.
For further information please contact Frank Slabbert of Swakop Striders at tel: 064 405788 (h); cell: 081 240 3383; e-mail: fatslab@iafrica.com.na
or
Rössing's Botha Ellis at tel: 064 520 2426; cell: 081 286 0456; e-mail: botha.ellis@riotinto.com or Alwyn Lubbe at tel: 064 520 2436; cell: 081 122 5201; e-mail: alwyn.lubbe@riotinto.com
Previous Marathon winners are:
1992 Luketz Swartbooi 2:11:23
1993 Aaron Shipanga 2:28:23
1994 Fritz Awoseb 2:17:05
1995 Moses Maasdorp 2:25:32
1996 Alex Cloete 2:26:44
1997 Joseph Tjitunga 2:19:06
1998 Johannes Gawaxamab 2:29:48
1999 Luketz Swartbooi 2:20:44
2000 Tobias Hiskia 2:28:04
2001 Salomo David 2:28:29
2002 Tuhafeni Petrus 2:29:08
2003 Robert Kaxuxuena 2:26:20
2004 Salomo David 2:29:04
2005 Salomo David 2:22:28
2006 Salomo David 2:30:02
2007 Simon Shigwedha 2:27:16
2008 Erich Goeieman 2:25:57
2009 Erich Goeieman 2:26:14
2010 Erich Goeieman 2:21:19
2010 Pinehas Embashu 2:25:58
Issued by:
Jerome Mutumba
Manager External Affairs
Contact person:
Botha Ellis (Advisor Corporate Communications)
Tel: 064 - 520 2426
Cell: 081 286 0456
e-mail: botha.ellis@riotinto.com