Street Mile to include disabled athletes
The fifth edition of the Erongo Power Save Street Mile in Omaruru in October will feature a Paralympic category inspired by Israel Kaulume, a disabled participant, last year.
The category T42-44 will enable disabled participants to compete in the street mile. Athletes in this category have single below-knee amputations or can walk with moderately reduced function in one or both legs.
Kauluma, who was the first disabled athlete to participate in the event, competed in the masters' category, hitting 11 minutes and 23 seconds in the 1.5km road race using a wheelchair.
“My office is engaging Athletics Namibia and the Paralympic Committee to make sure everything is done according to guidelines for Paralympic games,” Omaruru regional sports officer Bethold Karumendu told Nampa on Thursday.
Karumendu said many disabled people want to participate in the street mile but are hindered because of a lack of suitable wheelchairs.
“Many people with impairments are hidden; let's encourage them to participate in the race,” Karumendu said.
The T42-44 category will join the senior men and women's categories for people between 20 and 39 years old, junior men and women (ages 14-19), veteran men (ages 40-49), masters men and women (ages 50 and above), and boys and girls (ages 10-13).
The introduction of the Paralympic category brings along a number of challenges such as access to suitable wheelchairs, but Karumendu is confident that these challenges will be addressed.
Last year, the Erongo Power Save Street Mile attracted 947 participants backed by sponsorships from Shield Namibia through the Omaruru-based Erongo Powersave Wholesaler, the Ministry of Sport, Pasta Polana, Marathon Sugar, Windhoek Light, Coca-Cola and First National Bank.
Karumendu has already started approaching potential sponsors in preparation for this event, which has become an annual highlight for local runners.
NAMPA
The category T42-44 will enable disabled participants to compete in the street mile. Athletes in this category have single below-knee amputations or can walk with moderately reduced function in one or both legs.
Kauluma, who was the first disabled athlete to participate in the event, competed in the masters' category, hitting 11 minutes and 23 seconds in the 1.5km road race using a wheelchair.
“My office is engaging Athletics Namibia and the Paralympic Committee to make sure everything is done according to guidelines for Paralympic games,” Omaruru regional sports officer Bethold Karumendu told Nampa on Thursday.
Karumendu said many disabled people want to participate in the street mile but are hindered because of a lack of suitable wheelchairs.
“Many people with impairments are hidden; let's encourage them to participate in the race,” Karumendu said.
The T42-44 category will join the senior men and women's categories for people between 20 and 39 years old, junior men and women (ages 14-19), veteran men (ages 40-49), masters men and women (ages 50 and above), and boys and girls (ages 10-13).
The introduction of the Paralympic category brings along a number of challenges such as access to suitable wheelchairs, but Karumendu is confident that these challenges will be addressed.
Last year, the Erongo Power Save Street Mile attracted 947 participants backed by sponsorships from Shield Namibia through the Omaruru-based Erongo Powersave Wholesaler, the Ministry of Sport, Pasta Polana, Marathon Sugar, Windhoek Light, Coca-Cola and First National Bank.
Karumendu has already started approaching potential sponsors in preparation for this event, which has become an annual highlight for local runners.
NAMPA
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