Cyclists had to battle a sandstorm and athletes had to deal with a strong headwind on day two of the inaugural edition of the Lüderitz Namport Nedbank Powerhouse Challenge in the harbour town on Saturday. The event saw close to 50 runners and 31 cyclists competing.
Cycling
Joris Harteveld (56) won the 100km Lüderitz Namport Nedbank Powerhouse Road Race Challenge. Harteveld, who resides in Windhoek, finished the distance in 3:15:24 and in doing so improved his personal best time over the distance. The Food Lovers Market team member and his 14 co-competitors, had to ride through a sandstorm from the Welcome to Lüderitz sign throughout the entire race. He faced stiff opposition from the Windhoek-based NCCS cycling team members Petrus Hanga (20) who finished second in 3:19:25 and Simon Kaita (23) who finished third in 3:22:03. “It was a tough race. The young challengers opened a gap and I managed to close the gap at the 30km mark. Things improved at the turnaround point. With the wind at my back I recorded speeds of up to 75km per hour going downhill,” Harteveld said. “It is a fantastic race and I wish that our top Namibian cyclists will come and compete here,” Harteveld, who is preparing to qualify to race abroad, added.
Wilbard Shoopala (38) crossed the finish line first in the 50km race. He completed the distance in 1:47:32, followed by Karl-Nikolai Lisse (13) in second place with a time of 1:55:51 and Lukas Lukas (30) in third position in 2:03:19. “It was a straightforward route. The wind was tough and made it a difficult day out there. I will be back to challenge the tough guys over the 100km distance next year,” said Shoopla. He encouraged the organisers to ensure that more locals sign up for the event. “It is mostly athletes from outside that participated today and by doing so they can ensure a bigger turnout for future events. The locals should get bikes and train in the wind, this will give them a huge advantage when they go and compete in other towns.” The 50km race category drew one female and 16 male cyclists.
Road Running
Geros Koper, a member of the Keetmanshoop Athletics Club, won the half-marathon (21km) which was contested by 16 athletes. Miele Swiegers was the first woman over the finish line. She completed the distance in 2:12:54. Koper completed the distance in a time of 1:25:22, followed by Jerry Kale in 1:43:13 in second position and Ferdinand Moses who crossed the finishing line third after 1:55:10 of running. “It was a wonderful race and I enjoyed it. I looked forward to competing here and saw it as an adventure. The organisers should consider having an earlier start for the event,” commented Koper. He used the opportunity as preparation for the upcoming Vivo Marathon, the qualifiers for the Championship and the Husab Marathon.
The Keetmanshoop Athletics Club runner, Quinton Sipholino (16) made haste and won the 10km race in a time of 39:26sec. His coach Richard April followed in second position in 41:50sec and Aldrin Saunders crossed the finishing line third in a time of 47:53sec. “I had a good race despite the absence of any strong competition. I ran at my own pace and enjoyed having the wind behind me on the way back,” Sipholino said. Abby Burgess won the female section of the race in 1:06:16. Fourteen athletes entered the race. Leevi Ndemunkondjela won the 5km race in 14:35sec, followed by Panduleni Shehama in 20:23sec. Akinbiyi Ondunlade finished third in 20:56sec. The race had 19 athletes competing.
Top three finishers
Cycling
100km - 1 Joris Harteveld 3:15:25, 2 Petrus Hanga 3:19:25 and 3 Simon Kaita 3:22:03.
50km - 1 Wilbard Shoopala 1:47:32, 2 Karl-Nikolai Lisse 1:55:51 and 3 Lukas Lukas 2:03:19.
Road Running
21km Ladies - 1 Miele Swiegers 2:12:54, 2 Etuna Nuuyoma 2:24:53 and 3 Johame Boshoff 2:38:30
21km Men - 1 Geros Koper 1:25:22, 2 Jerry Kale 1:43:13 and 3 Ferdinand Moses 1:55:10
10km ladies - 1 Abby Burgess 1:06:16, 2 Annaloice Penduka 1:08:20 and 3 Paulina Mbundu 1:10:20
10km Men - 1 Quinton Sipholino 39:26sec, 2 Richard April 41:50sec and 3 Aldrin Saunders 47:53sec
5km - 1 Leevi Ndemunkondjela 14:35sec, 2 Panduleni Shehama 20:23sec and 3 Akinbiyi Ondunlade 20:56sec.
Cycling
Joris Harteveld (56) won the 100km Lüderitz Namport Nedbank Powerhouse Road Race Challenge. Harteveld, who resides in Windhoek, finished the distance in 3:15:24 and in doing so improved his personal best time over the distance. The Food Lovers Market team member and his 14 co-competitors, had to ride through a sandstorm from the Welcome to Lüderitz sign throughout the entire race. He faced stiff opposition from the Windhoek-based NCCS cycling team members Petrus Hanga (20) who finished second in 3:19:25 and Simon Kaita (23) who finished third in 3:22:03. “It was a tough race. The young challengers opened a gap and I managed to close the gap at the 30km mark. Things improved at the turnaround point. With the wind at my back I recorded speeds of up to 75km per hour going downhill,” Harteveld said. “It is a fantastic race and I wish that our top Namibian cyclists will come and compete here,” Harteveld, who is preparing to qualify to race abroad, added.
Wilbard Shoopala (38) crossed the finish line first in the 50km race. He completed the distance in 1:47:32, followed by Karl-Nikolai Lisse (13) in second place with a time of 1:55:51 and Lukas Lukas (30) in third position in 2:03:19. “It was a straightforward route. The wind was tough and made it a difficult day out there. I will be back to challenge the tough guys over the 100km distance next year,” said Shoopla. He encouraged the organisers to ensure that more locals sign up for the event. “It is mostly athletes from outside that participated today and by doing so they can ensure a bigger turnout for future events. The locals should get bikes and train in the wind, this will give them a huge advantage when they go and compete in other towns.” The 50km race category drew one female and 16 male cyclists.
Road Running
Geros Koper, a member of the Keetmanshoop Athletics Club, won the half-marathon (21km) which was contested by 16 athletes. Miele Swiegers was the first woman over the finish line. She completed the distance in 2:12:54. Koper completed the distance in a time of 1:25:22, followed by Jerry Kale in 1:43:13 in second position and Ferdinand Moses who crossed the finishing line third after 1:55:10 of running. “It was a wonderful race and I enjoyed it. I looked forward to competing here and saw it as an adventure. The organisers should consider having an earlier start for the event,” commented Koper. He used the opportunity as preparation for the upcoming Vivo Marathon, the qualifiers for the Championship and the Husab Marathon.
The Keetmanshoop Athletics Club runner, Quinton Sipholino (16) made haste and won the 10km race in a time of 39:26sec. His coach Richard April followed in second position in 41:50sec and Aldrin Saunders crossed the finishing line third in a time of 47:53sec. “I had a good race despite the absence of any strong competition. I ran at my own pace and enjoyed having the wind behind me on the way back,” Sipholino said. Abby Burgess won the female section of the race in 1:06:16. Fourteen athletes entered the race. Leevi Ndemunkondjela won the 5km race in 14:35sec, followed by Panduleni Shehama in 20:23sec. Akinbiyi Ondunlade finished third in 20:56sec. The race had 19 athletes competing.
Top three finishers
Cycling
100km - 1 Joris Harteveld 3:15:25, 2 Petrus Hanga 3:19:25 and 3 Simon Kaita 3:22:03.
50km - 1 Wilbard Shoopala 1:47:32, 2 Karl-Nikolai Lisse 1:55:51 and 3 Lukas Lukas 2:03:19.
Road Running
21km Ladies - 1 Miele Swiegers 2:12:54, 2 Etuna Nuuyoma 2:24:53 and 3 Johame Boshoff 2:38:30
21km Men - 1 Geros Koper 1:25:22, 2 Jerry Kale 1:43:13 and 3 Ferdinand Moses 1:55:10
10km ladies - 1 Abby Burgess 1:06:16, 2 Annaloice Penduka 1:08:20 and 3 Paulina Mbundu 1:10:20
10km Men - 1 Quinton Sipholino 39:26sec, 2 Richard April 41:50sec and 3 Aldrin Saunders 47:53sec
5km - 1 Leevi Ndemunkondjela 14:35sec, 2 Panduleni Shehama 20:23sec and 3 Akinbiyi Ondunlade 20:56sec.
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