Victory race winners to run in SA Two Oceans race

THIS year’s ninth Old Mutual Victory Races Series overall winners will compete at the 2010 South Africa’s Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town.
Old Mutual chief executive officer for operations Sakaria Nghikembua announced that the two overall winners will compete at the popular race to expose local runners to international events.

It is, however, not clarified if the two winners of the tenth edition will also compete at the 2011 South Africa Two Oceans Marathon. He said Old Mutual will cover the travel and accommodation costs for the overall winners of both the men’s and ladies’ categories of 21 kilometres.On top of the Two Oceans Marathon, the two winners will pocket N$10 000.He added the Old Mutual Victory Races Series, normally competed in three different places, will kick off at Oshakati on June 27 with the second leg scheduled for Swakopmund on July 18. The final is billed for Windhoek on August 8 at Jan Möhr High School.Nghikembua added that for an athlete to qualify for the final in Windhoek, he/she must have participated in either of the two races in Oshakati or Swakopmund.The runner-up will take home N$5 000 while the third-place runner will get N$2 500.’We use the series for talent scouting, and to provide young people from across the country with professional development opportunities. The objective is to provide underprivileged young athletes from various background an opportunity to receive professional training, plenty of running and sponsorship opportunities.’For this race alone, Old Mutual will spend N$299 808 compared to N$235 000 spent in 2008.Meanwhile, two promising and talented under-privileged athletes will be selected to enter a professional development programme administered by the Frank Fredericks Foundation. The two athletes will also receive tuition fees.Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) chief administrator Rusten Mogane expressed appreciation to Old Mutual for creating opportunities for local road runners.He commended Old Mutual for the professional manner in which they organise the Victory Races series.The launch was also graced by the presence of Frank Fredericks Foundation Trustee Agnes Tjongarero, who is the President of the Namibia National Olympic Committee. – Nampa