Nampol Athletics Club was the overall winner of the first leg of the Bank Windhoek Athletics Grand Prix which took place at Oshakati Stadium on Saturday. Nampol won a total of 19 medals, followed by WHS Athletics Club with 8 medals and Golden Cheetahs Athletics Club with 7 medals.
A total of 157 athletes participated in the Grand Prix which saw some promising performances. Sprinters Jesse Urikhob and Memory Kapesaia, middle distance athletes Johannes Skrywer and Beata Naigambo and field athlete Charlene Engelbrecht each won two gold medals.
Jesse Urikhob of Golden Cheetahs comfortably won the men’s 100m and 200m in 10,57 and 21,21 seconds respectively, which was well off Frank Fredericks’ national records of 9,86 and 19,68 seconds respectively.
Memory Kapesaia of Nampol won the women’s 100m and 200m in 13,14 and 27,33 seconds respectively. Both these times were well off the respective national records of 11,73 and 23,06 seconds.
Johannes Skrywer of Swakop Striders won the 5 000m in 15:45,30 while he just edged out Daniel Nghipandulwa to win the 1 500m in 3:53:44, with Nghipandulwa finishing second in 3:53:69.
Charlene Engelbrecht of WHS Athletics Club was in a class of her own to win the women’s shotput in 12,70m and the discus in 42,59m.
Marathon runner Beata Naigambo of Nampol won the women’s 800m in 2:15,30 and the 3 000m in 9:58,29. Both these times were well outside the national records of 1:59,15 and 9:30,98.
Stacey Namases of Athletics Namibia said the first leg of the Grand Prix series was a success.
“The stadium was really packed and the athletes put up some spectacular performances especially in the 100m, 800m and the 1 500m which proved to be popular with the spectators,” Namises said.
“The 800m was made even better by the coaching clinic that took place a day before with Agnes Samaria. I think it really assisted the athletes and improved their performance, especially amongst the women,” she added.
Following the Bank Windhoek Grand Prix, Athletics Namibia (AN) conducted its annual Congress in Oshakati. Council members, regional representatives and associated members including the Namibia School Sport Union and Vision 2016 were present to reflect on the year that was and deliberated on the future activities of AN.
Athletes Beata Naigambo, Simon Nakapunda and Daniel Nghipandulwa who will form part of a six member Athletes Commission were also present to ensure the voices of the athletes were heard.
Overall, the Congress was positively received with delegates congratulating the current AN Council for the significant progress it had achieved over the past three years.
The second leg of the Bank Windhoek Grand Prix will take place on December 10 in Swakopmund. All athletes must register by December 2 through their regional structures or clubs. Unregistered athletes can enter at a cost of N$30. No late entries will be accepted.
The complete results are attached.
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| GP 1 Results.doc | 54.5 KB |