Oshakati — Last weekend saw the Oshakati Independence Stadium play host to the first leg of the popular annual Bank Windhoek Grand Prix, carrying prize monies to the value of N$45 150.

Namibia's most improved sportsperson of the year, Globine Mayova, was among a strong field of top athletes that included Lavinia Haitope, Basilius Karupu and Daniel Nghipandulwa.

The country's leading athletes proved to be the stars of the competition with all of them winning in their respective events. Mayova took top honours in the women's 200m (24.46s) and 400m (55.73s) sprints.

The determination of 400m national sprint champion Basilus Karupu ensured that he retained his title as 400m Grand Prix champion, finishing in an astonishing time of 48.13 seconds. In the process, becoming the new 200m Grand Prix champion after narrowly seeing off Hitjivirue Kaanjuka in the 200m sprint in a time of 21.72.

Lavinia Haitope, who recently finished in the top 40 in the World Half Marathon Championships, was the queen of the middle distance events when she finished first in both the 1500m and 3000m events in a time of 4:25.04 and 09:52.25 respectively.

Daniel Nghipandulwa showed consistency when he was victorious in the men's 800m and 1500m events. Merlyn Diamond, back from injury, was victorious in the women's 100m sprint, while the 100m national champion, Hitjvirue Kaanjuka, reigned supreme in the men's 100m in a time of 10.75.