Athletics

Athletics fans can look forward to top class action on Saturday when the second leg of the Bank Windhoek Grand Prix Series takes place at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium.

According to a press release issued by Athletics Namibia, a record number of athletes have entered for the event, while AN has also increased its prize money, which should ensure some exciting showdowns between Namibia’s top athletes.

The second leg of the Bank Windhoek Grand Prix which set to take place on Saturday at the Windhoek Independence Stadium will jump start what is envisioned to be an exhilarating athletic season in 2013.

A total of 284 athletes have booked their place in the competition.

Following the success of the first leg held in Oshakati in December, Athletics Namibia have decided to increase the prize money of the second leg of the illustrious competition from N$45 000 to N$ 61 700 to appease the developing appetite of track and field competitions in the country.

The 20th edition of the Quinton Steele Botes Athletics Course and Training Camp was launched in Windhoek on Monday when more than 250 young athletes and 18 coaches turned up for the opening.

But the normal welcoming remarks were soon superseded by tributes and an emotional speech by the remarkable Botes, who has been the driving force behind the camp since its inception.

Botes, who has been battling cancer bravely over the past year, picked up a life-threatening virus during December and doctors advised him to say farewell to his family.

Namibian athletes shine abroad

Namibia’s top athletes made their country proud with some fine performances at regional, continental and international level during 2012.

Namibia once again competed at the South African Yellow Pages circuit from February to April this year where Tjipekapora Herunga and Globine Mayoba led the way with some record performances.

Herunga twice broke the Olympic A qualifying time in the 400m - on April 20, she won in Pretoria in 51,90 seconds and on May 5 she shattered her own Namibian record when she won at the SA Open in a new time of 51,24.

The Oshakati Independence Stadium played host to the first leg of the Bank Windhoek Grand Prix on Saturday 8th December 2012.

Prize money to the value of N$45 150 was sponsored by Bank Windhoek while the Coca Cola Bottling Company was the official drink sponsor.

Namibia’s Most Improved Sportsperson of the year, Globine Mayova, Lavinia Haitope, Basilius Karupu and Daniel Nghipandulwa were the stars of the competition after each won two events at the Grand Prix.

Mayova took top honours in the women’s 200m in 24.46 seconds and 400m in 55.73 seconds.

Frank Fredericks was re-elected as president of Athletics Namibia (AN) following a well-attended elective congress, on Saturday 17th November at the Etuna Guesthouse Conference Centre in Ongwediva.

Fredericks who was nominated to the presidency position will serve his second term as president of one of the leading sports codes in the nation.

During his acceptance speech, Fredericks thanked the outgoing council for setting the foundation in reviving athletics in the country.

Namibian sport consultant Quinton Steele Botes on Tuesday launched the 20th Quinton Steele Botes Athletics Course and Training Camp which will be held at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium from January 7 to 13, 2013.

Botes, who has been receiving treatment for cancer in Cape Town over the past four months, said his treatment had gone well.

“I’m fine and glad to say that my blood and the bone marrow is clean now. They gave me some chemotherapy treatment, and I spent 138 days in Cape Town of which 99 days were in isolation,” he said.

Namibia’s recently crowned Sportswoman of the Year, Helalia Johannes finished sixth in the Elite Women’s category at the Dublin Marathon in a time of 2:35:01 yesterday.

She finished more than four minutes behind the winner, Magdalena Mukunza of Tanzania who won in a time of 2:30:45.

Faith Chemaoi of Kenya came second in 2:31:10, while Natalia Punchkova of Russia came third in 2:31:42.

They were followed by Ashete Didi Bekele of Ethiopia (2:33:28), Marina Kovaleva of Russia (2:34:53) and Johannes.

Helalia Johannes came fifth in the women’s elite category in the Delhi Half Marathon last weekend.

Johannes complete the 21,1km event in a season best time of 1 hour 11 minutes 43 seconds.

Running in hot and humid conditions Johannes managed to keep up with the leaders till the halfway mark but dropped back as the pace increased over the second half of the race.

She was still lying third a few kilometres before the end but was overtaken at the end and had to settle for fifth position.

The annual Rock Spitzkoppe Community Run and Mountain Bike Challenge, a highlight for runners, walkers and bikers all over Namibia, took place last Saturday, 08 September.

Over 400 individuals entered, as well as over 100 children from the local community bringing participant numbers to well over 500.

This is the fourth consecutive year that AREVA Resources Namibia has sponsored the event as part of its Corporate Social Investment programme, which is  focused on local communities.