By Kuvee Kangueehi
WINDHOEK
Old Mutual launched the 2007 Victory Race Series, which is the 6th edition of the competition, in the capital on Tuesday.
Speaking at the launch, the Victory Race Co-coordinator Charles Gordon said the competition has become one of the biggest sporting events capturing the support and imagination of Namibia’s top long distance athletes. Gordon said the quality of the competition has been improving and the entry numbers have swelled over the years reaching a record of more 1 600 last year.
Speaking at the same event, the Chief Administrator of the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) Rusten Mogane said his institution has been impressed by the fact that Old Mutual handsomely rewards it winners. He noted that many Namibian athletes are not professionals and cannot maintain their families, but prize monies such as the ones from Old Mutual go a long way for them.
He also applauded Old Mutual for giving promising athletes a scholarship and said this is the only way to develop sport in the country.
The Victory Race Series will be run over three legs with the first one starting in Oshakati on August 11. After a three-year absence from the coastal town, the race will return to Swakopmund for the second leg and will be completed in Windhoek on September 29.
The Victory Race will retain and expand its unique social development quality through the talent scouting process at each race. The race aims to bring underprivileged, but promising young athletes, to the national final and will choose two athletes to enter a professional development programme.
Old Mutual revealed that it has spent over N$ 1,3 million in sponsoring the event since its inception in 2001.
Last year Reinhold Iita was crowned the Old Mutual Victory Race champion after winning the final race of 21km in Windhoek. Iita beat long-time rival, Luketz Swartbooi, and upcoming long-distance runner, Willem Rooi, to take the most prestigious award in the local marathon competition. The ever-improving Hilaria Johannes dominated the series and made three wins in a row in a rather mediocre time for her of 1:19:54. Beata Naigambo came second in 1:20:11, and Helena Iipinge third in 1:26:09.