Haitope shines at the Grand Prix
Lavinia Haitope. (Photograph by Yvonne Amukwaya)
Lavinia Haitope, the female winner of the Old Mutual Victory Race 2012, was the queen of the second leg of the Grand Prix when she showed fine performances in the women’s 800m, 1500m and 3000m. Her time of 09:28.4h saw her narrowly defeating her training partner Beata Naigambo in the women’s 3000m run.
Globine Mayova retained her 200m and 400m Grand Prix titles when she finished with times of 23.79s and 57.63s respectively. Hitchivirue Kaanjuka retained his 100m and 200m Grand Prix titles with times of 10.51s and 21.08s respectively. Middle distance runner, Daniel Nghipandulwa showed notable performances when he won two gold medals in the men’s 800m and 1500m and one silver medal in the 400m.
Pole vault which was introduced in the Bank Windhoek Grand Prix for the first time, saw young Walter Burger vaulting a height of 3.10m to win gold in the men’s pole vault event. Adiel van Wyk, who was recovering from an injury, showed good form in the men’s long jump event after winning gold with a jump of 7.01m.
Athletics Namibia President Frank Fredericks was pleased that the second leg of the Bank Windhoek Grand Prix attracted so many entries saying, “our development programme is slowing showing an improvement in the quality of competitions that we are hosting.”
He said with sustained commitment from athletes, coaches, officials and sponsors, it will only be a matter of time before athletics soar to greater heights.
Bank Windhoek, Athletics Namibia’s main sponsor for the Grand Prix, remained committed to the development of athletics by increasing the prize money for the second leg from N$45000 to N$61700.
The Executive Officer: Marketing and Corporate Communication, Marlize Horn, expressed gratitude on the success of the event. “Bank Windhoek is proud to be associated with Athletics Namibia. Bank Windhoek was pleased to learn that there were a record number of entries which resulted in a full programme for the day.
“The event was also well organised and well attended. This is proof of the good leadership of Athletics Namibia in which Bank Windhoek has great confidence in. Bank Windhoek will continue to support athletics as a sport code, because we believe that it is the most accessible sport code with the widest reach to Namibians of all ages,” she said
The third and final leg of the Bank Windhoek Grand Prix takes place on 2 February in Swakopmund. Entries close on Thursday 24 January.
