Eight in a row for Seidler

Record remains intact
Adolf Kaure
Swakopmund • [email protected]

Reigning champion Phillip Seidler won the 14th edition of the Pupkewitz Jetty Mile for the eighth consecutive year on Sunday.

Despite hitting a sand bank at the beginning of the race and injuring his shoulder, Seidler was able to leave the rest of the field behind and won the race in a time of 20 minutes and 10 seconds.

He was rushed to hospital immediately after finishing and winning the race to receive medical attention for the injury and could not be reached for comment.

His record of 18:33, which he set last year, remains intact.

South African Amica de Jager won the women's category for the second consecutive year, in 22 minutes and 27 seconds.

“It was an awesome race. I enjoyed it so much last year and I came back for more.”

According to De Jager, the waves and current which often help swimmers along as they swim, was of less assistance this year.

“I enjoyed the race. It was hard but so much fun,” she said.

The open water swimmer from St. Francis Bay, who is also a lifeguard, is currently preparing for the South African nationals.

She also has aspirations of being part of the qualifiers for the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.

Jetty Mile organiser Yvonne Brinkmann of OTB Sport, said that in order to adhere to health precautions, four different starts were executed at different times.

“We had a decent number of participants. Due to Covid-19 regulations, we divided it into four separate events and in different camps consisting of a male, female, the sprint and the kiddies’ race,” she said.

There was also no prize giving held on the day in order to avoid a large crowd.

The respective winners have been informed to collect their prizes on Monday between 10:00 and 13:00 at Swakopmund’s OTB Sport shop near Café Treff.

The 1.92km open-water race started at 15:30 at Tiger Reef. Participants swam past the jetty towards The Mole, where the finish line was positioned.

Selected results of the 2020 Pupkewitz Jetty Mile
Men:
1.Phillip Seidler - 20:10
2.Nico Esslinger - 22:57
3.Mikah Burger - 23:16

Women:
1.Amica de Jager - 22:27
2.Heleni Stergiadis - 23:47
3.Tiana Esslinger - 25:56