Desert triathlon wide open
Tyron Kotze, the local favourite for the FNB Desert Triathlon, happening on Sunday in Swakopmund, representing Namibia in the 70.3 World Champs in Canada earlier this year.
The Triathlon offers a choice of three distances, the Ultra distance (1.9km, 90km and 21km), a Standard distance (1km, 40km and 10km) and a Sprint Distance (400km, 20km and 4km). There are also team entries where athletes can team up with athletes in other disciplines to enable them to complete the entire event. Close to 300 participants are expected this year with a strong increase in numbers in the Ultra distance event, both internationally and nationally. Brad Venter, last year’s winner and the current record holder, said the bike course is the most intriguing as you leaving the quite town of Swakopmund and head out into the vastness of the Namibian desert. The Triathlon has about N$46,000 in prizes, these include cash prizes, vouchers, trophies and medals. Top prize is for the winner of the Ultra event, will receive N$4,500 and the first 200 entries will receive a Puma event T-shirt. OTB Sports said there would be strong competition for the overall winner this year, the local favourite for the Ultra distance is Tyron Kotze, who is expected to give internationals competing for the top spot a tough time and he will use the Desert Triathlon as a bench mark in preparation for 70.3 East London in January 2015.
OTB Sport would like to acknowledge FNB for its continued support and sponsorship over the past eight years and other loyal sponsors of the event PUMA (the technical sponsor), Occupational Care Namibia (OCNAM), Coca-Coke Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre and Air Namibia.
