Trail running gaining popularity
Agent 160:, had all the time in the world, and in the process ahd a chance for an individual photo during last weekend’s Standard Bank Xtrail.
Trail running is becoming a popular sport in Namibia as 550 people entered the Standard Bank Avis X Trail last weekend, far exceeding all expectations.
This was the second race of the Standard Bank series facilitated by OTB Sport.
The 16km trail took participants 8.5km into the mountains, coming close to Heja Lodge. Much of the trail was single track, originally coming from cattle paths and converted to trail tracks.
Namibia’s experienced trail runners were all there, including the likes of Andrew Rowles, Wim Steenkamp, Sem Shaanika, Pierre Van Rensburg, Laury Van Zyl, Martin Mweetako and Genevieve Weber.
Fastest on the day was Sem Shaanika who managed to complete the gruelling 16km in a time of 1hr 11 min 26 secs. He was also overall winner at the first Standard Bank Xtrail that took place last month on Farm Godeis. In second place was Martin Mweetako and Willie Van Zyl had to settle for bronze in a time of 1h 14 min 19 secs. Youngster Thomas Miller (18) also impressed as he came in 4th place in an 1hr 14min 46 secs.
In the ladies section, Genevieve Weber ran down the mountain like a “klipspringer”, increasing the gap between her and her training partner Germien Stals to almost a minute and a half. Genieve took first place in 1hr25 with Germien in second place and Robyn Lee Swartz in third.
In the Female Veteran 16km Lara Charnock won followed by Hilke Kruger and Ilsje Du Plooy was third. The Male Veteran was won by Abraham Rooi with Peter Brinkmann in second place and Wicus Burger in Third. In the Masters 16km Cheryl Young was first, Elke Jagau second and Berrit Graf third. In the Male Masters Stephen Kenny came first, Donald Gibb was first and Isdor Angula third.
Meanwhile, in the 7km trail, Nesley Gawaseb won in a time of 39min 36sec, followed by St Paul’s Matric student Josef Licthman in 40min49 sec. In third place was Jaco Hanekom.
The ladies Elite 7km was won by Shelikita Ndahambela in 43min 43 with Gaby Raith in second and Taliza Steenkamp in third.
The Veteran Females was won by Suzanna Borg, Almut Rolf in second and Ursula Gollwitzer in third. The Male Vet was won by Usiel Afrikaner with Alwyn Steenkamp in second place and Marius Kruger in third.
There was also a kids u/11 section with the kids ranging from 7 to 11 years. There were a total of 37 kids entries. In the girls Ada Kahl was first in 54:19 with Marcel Vermeulen in second place and Milne Becker in third. In the Boys u/11 Yenik Brinkmann was first in 54:14 with Darren Steenkamp in second and Nathan Chase in Third place.
The youngest participants were 6yrs and the oldest 71 years. In the past females usually made up 30% of the field. In this event the females far exceeded the males and of all the people entered 315 were female and 235 male.
