As entries continue to pour in and anticipation builds, organisers of the 2026 AUSC Region 5 Marathon are calling on athletes across Southern Africa to secure their places in the race, scheduled for 1 November at the Union Buildings in Tshwane, South Africa.
The event will feature 21.1km, 10km and 5km races, with an invitation-only one-mile race for athletes with disabilities in the T53 and T54 categories.
A total of N$437 000 in prize money is up for grabs, adding to the excitement surrounding the regional competition. The first 3 000 athletes to register online will receive complimentary event shirts, and the first 6 000 finishers will receive medals. Several prominent athletes will represent Namibia, including Willem Shipopyeni and Matias Simon in the men’s 21.1km race, while Josua Titus will compete in the 10km category.
In the women’s division, Lavinia Haitope and Maria Kanyanya will contest the 21.1km race, while Shiivomwene Shilongo, Penonghenda Neumbo and Tuuliki Angala will compete in the 10km event. In the women’s 21.1km race, Haitope is also targeting an improved performance after finishing third last year.
“I am focused on my training and working hard to ensure that I am in good shape for the competition. My goal is to perform well and represent Namibia with pride,” she said.
The one-mile para-athletics race will also give athletes with disabilities a chance to showcase their talent. Namibian T54 para-athlete Roodly Gowaseb, who won the category last year, will be among the athletes looking to make an impact. Together with Nico Kharuxab and Angula Mateus. The prize money will be distributed across the different race categories. In the men’s 21.1km race, the first three finishers will receive N$50 000, N$20 000 and N$10 000, respectively.
For the 10km race, the top three finishers will receive N$15 000,
N$7 000 and N$6 000, while the 5km category offers N$5 000 for
first place, N$3 000 for second and N$2 000 for third.
With defending champions and ambitious contenders preparing for the challenge, the marathon is expected to give regional athletes a competitive platform to test themselves and showcase their abilities. -lmupetami@nepc.com.na
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