The heart of Namibian marathon running
Little has been written about the man behind Namibian marathon poster child Helalia Johannes, coach Robert Kaxuxwena.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
WINDHOEK
The Namibian nation and the world at large have seen but a glimpse of what marathon running can truly be, as defined and curated by local coach, Robert Kaxuxwena.
The soft-spoken Kaxuxwena, who hails from the Ohangwena Region, was a runner in his heyday, but quit because he felt his calling was to groom someone else.
He started coaching Namibian marathon queen Helalia Johannes in 2012, and last year scooped the Chairperson's Excellence Award while juggling his duties as a Namibian Defence Force soldier.
His achievements are notable as he has not only insured that the athlete becomes a world championship medallist, but that she wins medals at the Military World Games, the All-Africa Games and at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Smashing records
In 2019, Johannes broke three Namibian records. She broke the Namibian marathon record to win the Nagoya Marathon in a time of 2:22:25, and went on to break the Namibian half-marathon record that April at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, with a winning time of 1:10:30.
She proceeded to break the 10km record in Port Elizabeth with a time of 31.50.
In September 2019, she achieved her greatest career milestone by earning a medal at the Athletics World Championships, coming in third in the marathon.
Already training
Although the Tokyo Olympic Games have been postponed to 2021, Johannes, who has already earned her spot, has started “light training to get in shape,” Kaxuxwena said.
He added that Namibia has so many undiscovered athletic gems, “but what we need is financial support, mentors and coaches to push these athletes”.
“I want the best for Namibian distance runners. I want them to work hard and never give up when the going gets tough,” he said.
In Johannes' footsteps
On his list of long-distance runners he coaches is Rainhold Tomas, who Kaxuxwena believes will follow in Johannes' footsteps.
“Tomas is an excellent athlete; he will bloom into the best soon enough. He should remain focused and dedicated,” the coach said. Other athletes on his grooming list are Daniel Paulus, Jesaya Matheus, Mynhardt Kauanivi, Pinehas Embashu, Kristof Ndunga, Kornelius Nghilyeendele, Uveni-nawa Kuugongelwa, Indileni Mweshamekange and Shivoomwene Shilongo.
WINDHOEK
The Namibian nation and the world at large have seen but a glimpse of what marathon running can truly be, as defined and curated by local coach, Robert Kaxuxwena.
The soft-spoken Kaxuxwena, who hails from the Ohangwena Region, was a runner in his heyday, but quit because he felt his calling was to groom someone else.
He started coaching Namibian marathon queen Helalia Johannes in 2012, and last year scooped the Chairperson's Excellence Award while juggling his duties as a Namibian Defence Force soldier.
His achievements are notable as he has not only insured that the athlete becomes a world championship medallist, but that she wins medals at the Military World Games, the All-Africa Games and at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Smashing records
In 2019, Johannes broke three Namibian records. She broke the Namibian marathon record to win the Nagoya Marathon in a time of 2:22:25, and went on to break the Namibian half-marathon record that April at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, with a winning time of 1:10:30.
She proceeded to break the 10km record in Port Elizabeth with a time of 31.50.
In September 2019, she achieved her greatest career milestone by earning a medal at the Athletics World Championships, coming in third in the marathon.
Already training
Although the Tokyo Olympic Games have been postponed to 2021, Johannes, who has already earned her spot, has started “light training to get in shape,” Kaxuxwena said.
He added that Namibia has so many undiscovered athletic gems, “but what we need is financial support, mentors and coaches to push these athletes”.
“I want the best for Namibian distance runners. I want them to work hard and never give up when the going gets tough,” he said.
In Johannes' footsteps
On his list of long-distance runners he coaches is Rainhold Tomas, who Kaxuxwena believes will follow in Johannes' footsteps.
“Tomas is an excellent athlete; he will bloom into the best soon enough. He should remain focused and dedicated,” the coach said. Other athletes on his grooming list are Daniel Paulus, Jesaya Matheus, Mynhardt Kauanivi, Pinehas Embashu, Kristof Ndunga, Kornelius Nghilyeendele, Uveni-nawa Kuugongelwa, Indileni Mweshamekange and Shivoomwene Shilongo.
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