David in triple marathon win

SALOMO David pulled a sensational hat-trick win when the captured the 2006 Roessing Marathon race in two hours and 30 minutes at Swakopmund on Saturday.

Salomo also won the race in 2004 and 2005, but his first victory was in 2001. This time, David, who represented the Welwitschia 77 Athletics Club of Windhoek, finished the race slower than his previous times.In 2001 he clocked 2:28, in 2004, he ran the 42,2 kilometres in 2:29 and last year he finished in 2:22.With the victory, David, nicknamed Patrao, became the first runner to win the event four times, while he was also crowned as the official Namibian champion for the rest of the season.Leonard Namupala of the Scenic Club from Luederitz came in second in 2:46:29, while Andreas Angula from the Ramblers Striders Club of Swakopmund crossed the line in 2:49:08.In the absence of Beata Naigambo who could not compete due to her preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Australia next month, Rachel Akukothela won the women’s race in a time of 3:06:36.She came sixth overall and was followed by Sophia Swiegers (4:02:2) and Adéle Delarey (4:09:00), who are both of the Windhoek Harriers club.In the 10-km run Reinhold Iita took first place in a time of 29 minutes and 15 seconds, improving on his 34:43 set in 2005.He was followed by Frans Hosea (30:44) and Tomas David (31:13) in second and third place respectively.Veteran marathon runner Lucketz Swartbooi holds the record for the marathon when he ran 2:11:23 in 1992, with the second fastest time belonging to Fritz Owoseb, who clocked 2:17:05 in 1994.Joseph Tjitunga was the third fastest man in the prestigious race in 1997, when he completed the race in 2:19:06.This year’s event in Swakopmund took place in sunny but hot and humid conditions with the temperature in the mid-twenties.Fifty athletes ran the marathon and a record number of 126 athletes participated in the 10-km race.The race was run from the Amphitheatre area onto the Henties Bay road and back.Roessing’s Manager of Strategic Development, Zebra Kasete, congratulated all the runners on their excellent performances.”You have made the most of your abilities and showed that you are fine sportsmen and women,” he said.He said that through the event Roessing hopes to promote a healthy lifestyle among all Namibians.-Additional Reporting by Roessing UraniumThis time, David, who represented the Welwitschia 77 Athletics Club of Windhoek, finished the race slower than his previous times.In 2001 he clocked 2:28, in 2004, he ran the 42,2 kilometres in 2:29 and last year he finished in 2:22.With the victory, David, nicknamed Patrao, became the first runner to win the event four times, while he was also crowned as the official Namibian champion for the rest of the season.Leonard Namupala of the Scenic Club from Luederitz came in second in 2:46:29, while Andreas Angula from the Ramblers Striders Club of Swakopmund crossed the line in 2:49:08.In the absence of Beata Naigambo who could not compete due to her preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Australia next month, Rachel Akukothela won the women’s race in a time of 3:06:36.She came sixth overall and was followed by Sophia Swiegers (4:02:2) and Adéle Delarey (4:09:00), who are both of the Windhoek Harriers club.In the 10-km run Reinhold Iita took first place in a time of 29 minutes and 15 seconds, improving on his 34:43 set in 2005.He was followed by Frans Hosea (30:44) and Tomas David (31:13) in second and third place respectively.Veteran marathon runner Lucketz Swartbooi holds the record for the marathon when he ran 2:11:23 in 1992, with the second fastest time belonging to Fritz Owoseb, who clocked 2:17:05 in 1994.Joseph Tjitunga was the third fastest man in the prestigious race in 1997, when he completed the race in 2:19:06.This year’s event in Swakopmund took place in sunny but hot and humid conditions with the temperature in the mid-twenties.Fifty athletes ran the marathon and a record number of 126 athletes participated in the 10-km race.The race was run from the Amphitheatre area onto the Henties Bay road and back.Roessing’s Manager of Strategic Development, Zebra Kasete, congratulated all the runners on their excellent performances.”You have made the most of your abilities and showed that you are fine sportsmen and women,” he said.He said that through the event Roessing hopes to promote a healthy lifestyle among all Namibians.-Additional Reporting by Roessing Uranium