BRONZE MEDAL FOR TEAM SD AT NAVACHAB HALF MARATHON

MBABANE – Local distance runners showed they are ready for the international stage.

The Athletics Association of Swaziland (AAS) sent a five-man team to the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Southern African Half Marathon championships in Namibia on Saturday and got an overall bronze medal. At least five countries participated at the event including host Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Mauritius and Seychelles with over 300 athletes registering for a share in a E56 000 purse.
A contingent from the country left last Thursday morning for the event dubbed Navachab Half Marathon. The team was led by Coach Selby Shongwe who is also AAS Vice President.

“It was always going to be difficult for the local athletes as they were fresh from participating in the annual FSRA event the previous week. Add the long journey travelled by road but the performance was encouraging. Notably, we could have placed better with speed the key factor with the endurance impressive from my athletes.

With better preparations, we could have done better or have all athletes placing in the top eight at the very least,” Shongwe said.
According to a report from The Namibian newspaper, Navachab Mine is the event’s biggest sponsor with a N$45 000 (E45 000) package.
The senior women and men 21.1km events were won by Levinia Haitope (Namibia) and Joel Monne (South Africa) after 1:14:10 and 1:03:07 hours, respectively. The winners each received N$5 000 (E5 000), while there were unspecified cash awards for the top six athletes in numerous categories.

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