Victory Race champs rewarded

THE winners of the 2005 edition of the Old Mutual Victory Race Series were rewarded with cash prizes during a function on Monday.

The Victory Races event included three legs ran in Oshakati, Keetmanshoop and Windhoek over 21 kilometres each. Top Namibian marathon runner, Luketz Swartbooi emerged as overall winner in the elite male competition.Although Swartbooi only won one of the three races, his best average time won him the series and first prize of N$10 000.Swartbooi, who recently ended second in the popular Soweto Marathon in South Africa, clocked the fastest time in the series, one hour three minutes and 48 seconds in Oshakati.In second place was Reinhold Iita who won two of the three races and in third place was Tomas David who ended third in all three races.Iita received N$5 000 and David N$2 500.Hilaria Johannes was crowned overall winner of the female race having won all three legs with flying colours.Johannes also received N$10 000 In second and third places were Helena Iipinge and Racher Akukothela respectively.Iipinge received N$5 000 and Akukothela N$2 500.Old Mutual Events Coordinator Revonia Kahivere thanked the athletes for their participation, saying without them the Victory Races would not be a success.Race organiser from Windhoek Harriers Running Club, Charles Gordon said the event was great and consistent.Gordon expressed his gratitude to Old Mutual for remaining a sponsor for seven years and for being there for the athletes.Meanwhile, two up and coming runners, Lukas Litongo and Tomas David were awarded bursaries of N$10 000 each during the ceremony.David, a Grade 12 learner at the Oshakati Secondary School, will be running as a senior from 2006, having turned 20 years recently.He told Nampa he will use the bursary money to do a computer course and use some of the money to prepare for the Soweto Marathon held annually in Johannesburg, South Africa.Litongo, also 20-years-old, would like to complete his Grade 10 with the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) next year.He had to quit school in 2003 due to financial difficulties and was looking forward to complete his formal school and later take up studies to become a road running coach.Litongo did not do very well during the 2005 edition of the Victory Races with fourth and fifth places, but did fairly well in other long distance competitions.He won the Salt Refiners 10km race for seniors in Walvis Bay, ended third in the 10 000 metres national championship and finished second in the Windhoek Harriers 10km Series.- NampaTop Namibian marathon runner, Luketz Swartbooi emerged as overall winner in the elite male competition.Although Swartbooi only won one of the three races, his best average time won him the series and first prize of N$10 000.Swartbooi, who recently ended second in the popular Soweto Marathon in South Africa, clocked the fastest time in the series, one hour three minutes and 48 seconds in Oshakati.In second place was Reinhold Iita who won two of the three races and in third place was Tomas David who ended third in all three races.Iita received N$5 000 and David N$2 500.Hilaria Johannes was crowned overall winner of the female race having won all three legs with flying colours.Johannes also received N$10 000 In second and third places were Helena Iipinge and Racher Akukothela respectively.Iipinge received N$5 000 and Akukothela N$2 500.Old Mutual Events Coordinator Revonia Kahivere thanked the athletes for their participation, saying without them the Victory Races would not be a success.Race organiser from Windhoek Harriers Running Club, Charles Gordon said the event was great and consistent.Gordon expressed his gratitude to Old Mutual for remaining a sponsor for seven years and for being there for the athletes.Meanwhile, two up and coming runners, Lukas Litongo and Tomas David were awarded bursaries of N$10 000 each during the ceremony.David, a Grade 12 learner at the Oshakati Secondary School, will be running as a senior from 2006, having turned 20 years recently.He told Nampa he will use the bursary money to do a computer course and use some of the money to prepare for the Soweto Marathon held annually in Johannesburg, South Africa.Litongo, also 20-years-old, would like to complete his Grade 10 with the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) next year.He had to quit school in 2003 due to financial difficulties and was looking forward to complete his formal school and later take up studies to become a road running coach.Litongo did not do very well during the 2005 edition of the Victory Races with fourth and fifth places, but did fairly well in other long distance competitions.He won the Salt Refiners 10km race for seniors in Walvis Bay, ended third in the 10 000 metres national championship and finished second in the Windhoek Harriers 10km Series.- Nampa