Nedbank Running Club women’s Green Dream Team runners dominate their opponents in Spar ladies races across South Africa.                       

This past weekend saw a host of Nedbank Running Club women’s runners challenge each other for glory as they competed in two Ladies Spar events in the country.

START OF THE LADIES SPAR IN PRETORIA

On Saturday, Nedbank Green Dream Team athlete, Irvette Van Blerk won the Spar race in Centurion when she beat a field of more than 20 000 runners (10&5km). She clocked 34 minutes and 26 seconds for the 10 kilometre that was run on a very tough route.

There were a pack of 8 runners in the group that formed in front of the race and they were running together on the very tough first 2 kilometres that was uphill all the way.

Including in the group were six Nedbank athletes in the likes of Irvette Van Blerk, Zinile Xintle, Sharon Tavenga, Rutenda Nyahora and sisters René and Christine Kalmer.

Irvette and Nedbank Team mate, Zintle Xiniwe broke away from the pack at the 3km. mark but Zintle could not hold the pace and it looks as she was struggling from the high altitude as she flew up from Cape Town the previous day.

 ZINTLE XINIWE AND IRVETTE VAN BLERK LEADING 

Rutendo Nyahora and Sharon Tavenga soon established themselves in a solid second and third position and our Nedbank comeback athlete Annerien Van Schalkwyk pushed from behind and was running in 4th position from the 5kilometre mark.

The positions stayed like this the whole second half of the race except that a strong running Irvette was increasing her lead with every step.

Irvette, 34:26 was followed home by team mate Rutenda Nyahora 34:59 and Sharon Tavenga 35:08 in third.

 
IRVETTE VAN BLERK GOING FOR THE WIN

Another 3 athletes from the Nedbank Running Club filled the rest of the top 10 prize winning positions on offer. They were Annerien Van Schalkwyk in 4th Rene Kalmer in 8th and Christine Kalmer in 9th position.

Annerien Van Schalkwyk who made her return to the road after a long injury proved that she is back and well on her way to be a force to reckoned with again.

 
ANNERIEN VAN SCHALKWYK MAKING A COMEBACK

There was little time to wait for the prize giving as the Nedbank Green Dream Team had to rush to the airport to be in time for their flight to Durban for the ladies Spar race that was staged the next day.

Again it was Irvette Van Blerk who dominated her rivals when she won the 10km in 33 minutes and 45 seconds. She was followed home by Zintle Zinewe in 34minutes and 48 seconds, clearly far more comfortable at sea level.

The evergreen Poppy Mlambo, who did not start the Spar race in Pretoria due to an accident on her way to the start, was fresh enough to claim third position for the Nedbank Green Dream Team in 35 minutes and 8 seconds.
 

TOP 3 POSITIONS IN THE DURBAN SPAR 10KM.

Nedbank Green Dream Team runners again dominated the top 10 positions as Annerien Van Schalkwyk finished 4th again, Mpho Mabuza 6th Marelize Retief 8th, Christene Kalmer 9th and Rene Kalmer 10th.

PODIUM POSITIONS 4 TO 10 IN THE SPAR RACE IN DURBAN

The Nedbank Green Dream Team proved yet again that they are currently unbeatable in women’s short distance running in South Africa.Results of the Spar Women’s 10km run in Pretoria on Saturday 28 August 2010.

Results of the Spar Women’s 10km run in Pretoria on Saturday 28 August 2010.

Open 1 Irvette v Blerk (Nedbank) 34:26; 2 Rutendo Nyahora  (Nedbank) 34:59; 3 Sharon Tsavenga  (Nedbank) 35:08; 4 Annerien v Schalkwyk  (Nedbank) 35:30; 5 Miriam Thole (Tuks) 36:39; 6 Samukeliso Moyo (Mr Price) 36:48; 7 Thabiat Tsatsa (Mr Price) 36:55; 8 Rene Kalmer  (Nedbank) 37:08; 9 Christene Kalmer  (Nedbank) 37:11; 10 Catherine Skosana (Transnet) 37:15

Results of the Spar Women’s 10km run in Durban on Sunday 29 August 2010.

Open 1 Irvette van Blerk (Nedbank) 33:45; 2 Zintle Xiniwe (Nedbank) 34:48; 3 Poppy Mlambo (Nedbank) 35:06; 4 Annerien van Schalwyk (Nedbank) 35:12; 5 Tebogo Masehla (Transnet) 35:42; 6 Mpho Mabuza (Nedbank) 35:48; 7 Thozama April (Transnet) 36:31; 8 Marelise Retief (Nedbank) 36:51; 9 Christina Kalmer (Nedbank) 36:55; 10 Rene Kalmer (Nedbank) 37:03

Nick Bester-National manager of the Nedbank Running Clubs

Nedbank Green Dream athlete, Sandile Ngunuza finished runner up in the IAU World Trophy 50km Championship.

Sandile Ngunuza who competed in the 50km World Trophy Final on Saturday finished an incredible 2nd place overall in Galway, Ireland.

Athletes have been selected from the 13 qualification races around the world and a strong group of runners started the race.
 

       
NEDBANK SOUTH AFRICAN IAU WORLD TROPHY TEAM

Ngunuza, from the Nedbank PE Running Club, and his fellow Nedbank Green Dream Team mate, Joseph Muputi were leading from the gun as they went through the 21km mark in 69 minutes.

Closely behind them in the following bunch were another two Nedbank runners in the likes of Lucas Nonyana and Peter Muthubi

Joseph Muputi raced through the official marathon distance mark of 42,2km in a fast 2 hours18minutes and 35 seconds was followed by Ngunuza in 2 hours 20minutes 21 seconds. Joseph was awarded the first marathon prize, as there was an official marathon distance race as part of the 50km championship event as well. Sadly, he would fade to 7th place in the closing stages of the race.

Ngunuza eventually finished in 2 hours 53 minutes 46 seconds but was just not strong enough to hold off the challenge of a strong finishing Collen Makaza from Zimbabwe, the eventual winner in 2 hours 47 minutes and 25 seconds.

Nedbank athlete and defending champion, Lucas Nonyana finished 5th, clearly not fully recovered from his efforts at this year’s Comrades Marathon and Joseph Maputi finished in 7th position.

In the ladies race, Lesley Train from the Nedbank Joburg Running Club finished in 8th place (3:45:25).

Ngunuza next has his sites set on next year’s Two Oceans Marathon.

 
 
SANDILE NGUNUZA, LUCAS NONYANA, PETER MUTHUBI , JOSEPH MUPUTI

Nick Bester-National Manager of the Nedbank running clubs.