Beata 4th in SA Champs

WINDHOEK – Namibian long-distance runner Beata Naigambo finished fourth overall in the women’s race of the Nedbank South African Marathon Championships held in Port Elizabeth at the weekend.

Naigambo clocked 2 hours 43 minutes and 28 seconds, compared to her personal best of 2 hours and 40 minutes, but she is extremely pleased with the result. Naigambo recently recovered from an iron deficiency and low blood pressure that had impeded her performances since 2005.The illness also caused her to collapse during the marathon race at the 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Australia.Naigambo said her time and placement were an indication that she is no longer sick, and she is very happy.”I’m feeling proud, and my time really boosted my confidence.It is also showing that I am back in the picture again,” said Naigambo.The weather was very windy and held her back a bit, but the route was easy, she said.Over 6 000 runners participated in the race.Due to work commitments, Naigambo said, she did not even train hard for her first marathon of the year.South Africans took the first three positions, with the winning time being 2:29.Fellow Namibian Rachel Akukothela took the lead early in the race, but the wind must have bothered her too, as she slowed down and did not finish in the top 20, Naigambo said.She attributed her recovery to Australian doctors who diagnosed her with a lack of iron and low blood pressure, after she collapsed during the marathon at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne last year.NampaNaigambo recently recovered from an iron deficiency and low blood pressure that had impeded her performances since 2005.The illness also caused her to collapse during the marathon race at the 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Australia.Naigambo said her time and placement were an indication that she is no longer sick, and she is very happy.”I’m feeling proud, and my time really boosted my confidence.It is also showing that I am back in the picture again,” said Naigambo.The weather was very windy and held her back a bit, but the route was easy, she said.Over 6 000 runners participated in the race.Due to work commitments, Naigambo said, she did not even train hard for her first marathon of the year.South Africans took the first three positions, with the winning time being 2:29.Fellow Namibian Rachel Akukothela took the lead early in the race, but the wind must have bothered her too, as she slowed down and did not finish in the top 20, Naigambo said.She attributed her recovery to Australian doctors who diagnosed her with a lack of iron and low blood pressure, after she collapsed during the marathon at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne last year.Nampa