FNB Sandman Triathlon draws hundreds

More than 460 athletes participated in the various categories of the FNB Sandman Triathlon at the Swakopmund Mole on Sunday. Yvonne Brinkman, race organiser, explained how the event has grown over the past 20 years since its inception. “More than 70 children under the age of 12 competed in this year’s event. Many of these athletes who started with the Sandman Triathlon years ago are now racing internationally.” The event offered four race categories with the following distances: Ultra (1.9 km swim, 90 km cycle, 21 km run), Standard (1 km swim, 40 km cycle, 10 km run), Sprint (400 m swim, 20 km cycle, 3 km run) and Super Sprint Team (150 m swim, 6 km cycle, 3 km run). Two South Africans, Tristan Alpers and Danica van Jaarsveld, clinched the top spots in the men’s and women’s Standard individual races, while there was no stopping the favourites in the Ultra team category, Team Flippy, consisting of Phillip Seidler, Jurgen Sander and Albertinus Goeieman. At the front Post-race, Tristan Alpers felt that he proved himself during this competition. “I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed and extremely tired. The bike leg was powerful. A group of about four caught up to me and another athlete, Maja (Brinkmann), and we were pushing around 40–45 km/h on the way back. I tried to pull away just before the first transition, but I only managed a 10-metre gap. “The transition was quick, straight into the run. I went out a bit too fast and suffered around 4–5 km, but gradually picked it back up. I finished with about a one-minute lead, so it went really well.” Alpers just came back from competing at the World Championship in Australia. “I didn’t do too well there due to a bike collision. Today was challenging with the wind, but I feel like I proved myself here.” As for his next plans, he has training coming up in New Zealand. “I’ll aim for Africa Champs next year on 28 March. I’ll also compete in the Jetty Mile (at Swakopmund on 27 December). My goal there is to stick with Phillip Seidler for as long as possible—Team Flippy all the way!” Women’s champion Danica van Jaarsveld said she is happy with the win. “I took a little break (in training) after the World Champs, so I did better than expected. The temperature was nice, the swim was good, and the bike went well. “Maya and I pushed each other on the bike, working together to keep up with the men. The run went well, too.” Van Jaarsveld added that she also competed in the World Championships, her first one. “I only started triathlon a year ago, so it was a great experience and exposure. I’m looking forward to more races in the future.” Speedster In the Sprint category, Namibia’s teenager Nathan Chase completed the course in just 50 minutes and 17 seconds. “The bike route was very windy, especially on the way back. I was alone the whole way. The run was great. Finally, I can maintain a faster pace than I’m used to, which gives me confidence.” Chase also has plans to compete in the upcoming Pupkewitz Jetty Mile. “My goal is to improve on last year’s results, aiming for a top-five finish again. After a short holiday in Cape Town, I’ll start building toward hopefully a big year next year.” Tough five hours In the gruelling Ultra individual race, Mark Spath (veteran men) clinched overall first place in 5:00:56. “The swim conditions were perfect. The cycle stage was windy and a bit slower than expected, but the run went well. Overall, five hours, I am happy — I just need another 30 seconds to catch my breath!” Meanwhile, first-time Sprint participant Gabriela Jacobs shared that it was a tough challenge. She had decided to participate after suffering serious health challenges due to a car accident six years ago. “The training was tough, but it’s been worth it. I’ll be back next year for the Standard distance.” The leading results: TEAMS – ULTRA Men: 1 Team Flippy & Seaworks (3:59:46). 2 RPJ Property Developers (4:22:53). 3 The Seahorses (4:40:12). Ladies: 1 Chasing Fun (5:30:46). 2 Terrific Trio (5:41:25). 3 VIM Sparkle and Shine (5:54:59). Mixed: 1 Food Lovers Market Tri Team (4:16:05). 2 Ultra Fun (4:44:02). 3 Lactic Legends (5:16:01). TEAMS – STANDARD Ladies: 1 The Family (2:42:02). 2 Goal Diggers 2025 (2:51:23). 3 The Outfit Gym Girls (2:57:42). Men: 1 Swakop Boys (2:02:58). 2 The Peacemakers (2:18:56). 3 The Heart Team (2:24:59). Mixed: 1 MOM-entum (2:28:36). 2 Two Men & a Blond (2:30:13). 3 Stefan’s Snail Express (2:30:17). INDIVIDUALS – ULTRA Ladies Elite: 1 Charly Ann Taylor (5:54:12). Men Elite: 1 Anton Swart (5:08:24). 2 Tristan Mouton (5:10:21). 3 Louis Burger (5:10:27). Men Veteran: 1 Mark Spath (5:00:56). 2 Marius Botha (5:10:49). 3 Petrus Laubscher (5:11:07). Master Female: 1 Marion Himmel (6:36:05). Master Men: 1 David Gardner (5:14:56). 2 Phillip Sonntagg (5:22:18). 3 Christo Horn (5:49:24). INDIVIDUALS – STANDARD Elite Ladies: 1 Danica van Jaarsveld (2:09:06). 2 Anri Greeff (2:11:01). 3 Maja Brinkmann (2:11:19). Elite Men: 1 Tristan Alpers (2:07:14). 2 Stefan Sander (2:12:52). 3 Ethan Brinkmann (2:17:54). Veteran Ladies: 1 Benita Windisch (2:34:29). 2 Ilona Sickel (2:35:46). 3 Jana Kehmann (2:48:26). Veteran Men: 1 John Valentin (2:20:48). 2 Pierre van Rensburg (2:20:57). 3 Jaco Marais (2:45:08). Master Ladies: 1 Karin Brockmann (2:51:25). 2 Gudrun Marschall (2:54:13). 3 Cheryl Young (3:05:35). Master Men: 1 Ian Grassow (2:34:53). 2 Siggi Meyer (2:41:44). 3 Roelof Pahl (2:44:41). INDIVIDUALS – SPRINT Female, under 16: 1 Kyra Marschall (1:04:05). 2 Lillian Kibble (1:12:42). 3 Sandra Schnebel (1:21:04). Male, under 16: 1 Matt-Reece Izaaks (56:05). 2 James Langford (57:25). 3 Fynn Middleton (59:08). Elite Ladies: 1 Laura Voss (1:06:18). 2 Meaghan le Roux (1:12:56). 3 Silke Schnebel (1:16:41). Elite Men: 1 Nathan Chase (50:17). 2 JF Labuschagne (1:12:22). 3 John Weber (1:17:38). Veteran Ladies: 1 Sandra Patzner (1:15:33). 2 Frances Chase (1:16:11). 3 Judith Middleton (1:26:30). Veteran Men: 1 Peter Brinkmann (1:00:53). 2 Stephen Chase (1:04:44). 3 Paul Brinkmann (1:05:19).