Kuvee Kangueehi Windhoek Reinhold Iita and Hilaria Johannes, who won the Old Mutual 2006 Victory Race Series for the Men’s and Women’s categories respectively, yesterday received N$10ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 each from Old Mutual. The two top Namibian athletes were presented with their rewards at an official breakfast function held in Windhoek. Other runners such as Luketz Swartbooi who came second in the Men’s category and Frans Hosea who ended third, also received N$5ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 and N$2ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 500 respectively. Beata Naigambo and Helena Iipinge who managed to get a second and third place in the Women’s category also received N$5ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 and N$2ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 500 respectively. Both Iita and Johannes won all three legs of the series staged in Oshakati, Keetmanshoop and Windhoek during the course of the year. Johannes, who is a strong favourite to scoop the Sportswoman of the Year award tomorrow, also won the series in 2005. Iita, a Lance Corporal in the Namibia Defence Force, almost missed out on the last and most important leg of the event in Windhoek on October 7 because of work commitments. He told Nampa on Wednesday that he pleaded with his bosses to let him run, and they condescended to release him. However, he will still go on a peace-keeping mission in Liberia in 2007. The Series’ second-placed runners (male and female) were: 2005 winner Lucketz Swartbooi and Beata Naigambo, who each received N$5ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000, while the third placed runners (male and female) were Frans Hosea and Helena Iipinge who were rewarded with N$2ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 500 each. During the series, Old Mutual identified two juniors who showed the most promising talent. They are Johannes Skrywer and Daniel Nghipendukua, who each received N$10ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000. Skrywer is a Grade 10 student in Rehoboth and has been participating successfully in sports events for the past three years. He is a member of the Rehoboth Athletic Club and has shown dedication in athletics as well as in his academic studies. According to the organizers, the Oshakati-based Nghipendukua possesses considerable talent which is just waiting to be developed. The N$10ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 prize will be administered by the Windhoek Harriers Running Club on behalf of Old Mutual Namibia, and will be used to cover needs identified by the winners, such as running gear or tuition. An original Old Mutual Namibia event, the Victory races were first held in 2001 and have since grown in leaps and bounds. The event provides Namibian athletes with the opportunity to improve their running times as well as winning considerable prizes. – Nampa