Namibia’s finest long-distance runners are ready to take on the world as they compete in the Backyard Ultra World Team Championships.
This endurance event is set to take place on Saturday at Gecko Ridge Lodge, just outside Swakopmund on the Swakop River Plots.
According to a press release issued by the organisers, the event follows the classic Backyard Ultra format, where runners must complete a 6.7km loop every hour, on the hour, until only one person remains.
But this time, there’s a global twist – the 15-strong Namibian team will be competing simultaneously against 15-person teams from 63 other countries in real time.
It’s both a team and personal battle, as each runner fights for their country, while the top 50 teams get the chance to send their national champions to the world finals in the United States in 2025.
One of the stars of team Namibia is André Ross, a three-time winner of the Brandberg Backyard Ultra and current Namibian record holder with 22 laps (147km) completed.
Standing alongside Ross is Corné Verwey, the women’s course record holder with 16 laps. PC Visser, who was the runner-up at Brandberg this year with 21 laps, is also aiming for victory.
They are joined by ultra running talents like Erich Goeieman, well-known for his multiple podiums in national marathons, Winnie Mukupuki and Kirsty Brits, known for completing the Comrades Ultra Marathon multiple times, and Elmarie Adriaanse, an adventurer at heart with four Backyard Ultras under her belt and a wealth of ultra-marathon experience.
These are just a few of the top athletes set to make their mark in this event. The Backyard Ultra World Team Championships isn’t just about running the furthest; it’s about strategic endurance, mental toughness and pure determination.
Namibia’s runners will face off against other elite athletes worldwide, starting at 14h00 local time, aligning with the original event, Big’s Backyard Ultra, founded by Lazarus Lake in Bell Buckle, Tennessee.
It’s in Bell Buckle where ultra-running legend Harvey Lewis set the current world record of 108 laps (720km) over the course of four and a half days in October 2023.
The race has no finish line – it only ends when the final runner completes a solo lap. With top contenders like Naude and Katja Dreyer fresh off the Comrades Marathon, and Michelle von Stein, stepping in with unwavering determination, team Namibia is poised to put up a formidable fight.
“We are extremely grateful to RMB Namibia, whose support as the main sponsor has been instrumental in making this event possible. The backing of corporate sponsors like RMB enables us to showcase our athletes on the world stage, and we are confident that Team Namibia has the endurance, strength and heart to compete with the best,” the press release states.
“Spectators are welcome to come and cheer on our runners as they battle it out for glory. A small entrance fee will be payable at the gate, with proceeds going to the five non-profit conservation organisations we support: Save the Rhino Trust Namibia, Ocean Conservation Namibia, Desert Lion Conservation, The Skeleton Coast Brown Hyena Project, and the Pangolin Conservation and Research Foundation,” it adds.
“For those looking to make a day of it, a limited number of dinner tickets are available for pre-booking. Join us at Gecko Ridge Lodge for an unforgettable day of ultra running, and let’s show the world what Namibia can do,” the release says.
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