More athletes with disabilities compete in Navachab marathon

WINDHOEK, 16 SEP – The fifth edition of the Navachab half-marathon saw increased participation by athletes with disabilities who competed in the 21 kilometre (km) run as well as the 5km fun walk and run.
The Navachab half-marathon has been held in the rocky town of Karibib for the past five years.
In previous editions Israel Kaulume, who competed in a wheelchair in the 21km race, was the only disabled participant. This year’s event however saw five more disabled athletes who travelled from Walvis Bay, competing in the half-marathon.
Race organiser and regional sports officer for Erongo, Berthold Karumendu told this agency on Saturday he is happy to see an increase in athletes with disabilities at the event.
“For the past two years we had someone racing in a wheelchair despite us not having a wheelchair category. This year, we saw an increase in the number of athletes with disabilities running in the competition but they competed in the same category as the able-bodied athletes because we do not have a category that caters for them,” he said.
Karumendu added that it will be difficult to introduce a category for disabled athletes at the half-marathon, saying the different classifications of disability sports would prove challenging for organisers.
The sports officer stated that the only event they will considered for future competition will be wheelchair racing.
“We really don’t need a lot of classification when it comes to wheelchair racing. I hope in the near future we will be able to include a wheelchair category where disabled athletes will also stand a chance to win cash while competing,” he said.
Kephas Kondjashili won this year’s Navachab half-marathon in one hour, five minutes and four seconds (1:05:04), while Lavinia Haitope won the women’s category in a time of 1:16:05. – NAMPA