Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK, Sept. 12 — Long-distance runners Simon Matias and Martha Shivolo emerged as the victors of the 2023 Nedbank CitiDash Run held on Sunday, September 10th. They demonstrated their prowess in the 10-kilometre elite race category, leaving their competitors behind.
After a three-year hiatus, the event made a highly anticipated return, attracting the participation of over 2,000 runners who competed in both 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer races. The race started and concluded at Zoo Park on Independence Avenue, situated opposite the newly established Nedbank Campus.
In the women’s elite category, Martha Shivolo, a runner from the Namibia Correctional Service, showcased her dominance, completing the race in an impressive 35 minutes and 06 seconds. Alina Armas, Namibia’s representative in marathon running at the recent World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, secured the second position with a time of 35 minutes and 39 seconds. Monica Kandjebo, an under-18 athlete representing the Ohangwena Athletics Club, clinched third place overall.
On the men’s side, newcomer Simon Matias outshone veteran runners Jeremia Shaliaxwe and Tomas Rainhold. Matias completed the 10-kilometer run in an outstanding 30 minutes and 33 seconds, followed closely by Shaliaxwe at 30 minutes and 42 seconds, and Rainhold at 31 minutes and 11 seconds.
The winners of the elite categories, both male and female, received N$7,000 each, while the runners-up were awarded N$5,000, and those in third place received N$4,000. Fourth and fifth-place finishers received N$2,500 and N$1,500, respectively.
Speaking after the race, Simon Matias expressed his satisfaction with the victory, acknowledging the challenges of the course. He said, “I am happy to have won this race. It was hilly when we were coming back, but I saw that Shaliaxwe did not have the same energy as when we were going down to the turning point, so I kept pushing and came first.” Matias emphasized that his victory served as motivation for his continued hard work and dedication.
Tomas Rainhold, who finished third in the men’s category, attributed his struggle during the race to a short recovery period following his participation in the 2023 World Athletics Championships. He said, “I only had one week of rest after the world champs and then started training again, and I found the going tough, but I hope I will be ready for the next marathon.”
Martha Shivolo, the women’s category winner, expressed her surprise at winning and credited her coach, Robert Kaxuxwena, for her success. She said, “The race was tough due to the hills coming back, but I should thank my coach Robert Kaxuxwena for the encouragement at training, and I ran my personal best today. I’m looking forward to future competitions.”
The 2023 Nedbank CitiDash Run also featured wheelchair racers and visually impaired athletes, promoting inclusivity in sports. Roodley Gowaseb and Nico Kharuxab secured the first and second positions in the wheelchair race, earning prize money of N$2,000 and N$1,500, respectively. Additionally, there were cash prizes for visually impaired athletes, schools, clubs, and a lucky draw for participants.
Nedbank Namibia Communications and Public Relations Manager, Selma Kaulinge, expressed gratitude for the tremendous turnout, emphasizing that this edition of the Nedbank CitiDash was one for the books. The event’s success was made possible through co-sponsorship from Paratus, NHP, Dstv, Ineos, and Checkers.
