At this rate the Soweto Nedbank Running Club will be the most dominant Club in the country. Once again the Club returned some sterling results over the weekend.
SA 10km Championships – Sasolburg 6 February, 2016
On Saturday 6 February, Sibusiso Nzima and Xolisa Tyali lined up in the SA 10km Championships in Sasolburg.
In near perfect conditions, the 300 odd athletes show away from the DP de Villiers Stadium at 6am on a flat course – which did have a deceptive sting in the tail. The first half of the race is on so slight a decline you wouldn’t notice it. One does however not realise that there is an ever slight climb in the second half.
The main pack of around 15 athletes were led through halfway in 14:24 – with both Nzima and Tyali in thick of things.
At around 6km Tyali started to drop off the pace set by Elroy Gelant and Stephen Mokoka. After 7.5km Nzima also couldn’t stay with the hard pushing Gelant and Mokoka. Important to note here is that Tyali has just come back from a marathon (Mumbai) and Nzima is preparing for his marathon on 20 February in Seville, Spain.
The pair finished in 6th and 7th respectively, with Nzima beaming. “I’m on track for Seville, I am really excited and looking forward to the race.” Nzima is targeting a 2:10 marathon finish which would almost certainly confirm his place on the Olympic Marathon Team.
8th and 9th were Joel Mmone who is having a sterling season and Kgosi Tsosane from Nedbank Klerksdorp and Gauteng North.
*please note, official times have as yet not been released at the time of writing
McCarthy race turns green
The Nedbank Dream Green Team completely dominated the McCarthy Toyota race with a podium clean sweep in the men’s half marathon and the men’s 10km race on Saturday 6 February.
With some of the big names racing in Sasolburg at the SA 10km Championships on the same day, it was time to make hay for the NBDGT – and they duly obliged.
Lewis Masunda had won here three times already and did feel the pressure of defending his title yet again.
Masunda set the pace from the gun with team mate, Kenyan, Moses Kiptoo Kuygat shadowing his every move until 17km where the Kenyan made his move and broke away.
“I would like to acknowledge that I did my best at this year's McCarthy half marathon. After having been won this race for three consecutive years, I was partially under pressure to reclaim my potential and title. I was pleased with my time, 66:59. I would like to thank our National Manager, Nick Bester and everybody on-board for the support,” said Masunda.
Twenty-eight seconds separated the first two. Third across the line and also in the colours of the Nedbank Running Club, was Lucas Asigayi.
The ladies race was won by the inform Rutendo Nyahora. With no one to challenge her, it effectively became a time trial.
“My race was okay. I lead from the start to the finish. Everything went according to my plan, which was to run under 78 and I did 77:19. I was so exited with my time because I haven’t started doing my speed yet. I ran McCarthy as part of my marathon preparations.”
The men’s 10km also saw the top three positions also saw the Nedbank Running Club sweep the podium.
Results
21.1km Half Marathon
|
Place
|
Name
|
Club
|
Bib No
|
Age
|
Gender
|
Total Time
|
Pace
|
1
|
MOSES KIPTOO KUYGAT
|
NEDBANK
|
1050
|
0
|
M
|
1:06:31.6
|
3:10/K
|
2
|
LUWIS MASUNDA
|
NEDBANK RUNNING
|
2346
|
29
|
M
|
1:06:59.6
|
3:11/K
|
3
|
LUCAS ASIGAYI JANI
|
|
309
|
29
|
M
|
1:08:00.6
|
3:14/K
|
Women
1
|
RUTENDO NYAHORA
|
NEDBANK RUNNING
|
2006
|
20
|
F
|
1:17:19.4
|
3:41/K
|
2
|
MARELISE RETIEF
|
BOXER
|
624
|
29
|
F
|
1:23:44.1
|
3:59/K
|
3
|
MARELISE VAN STAADEN
|
RUNAVATION
|
2126
|
0
|
F
|
1:27:34.5
|
4:10/K
|
10km - Men
Place
|
Name
|
City
|
Bib No
|
Age
|
Gender
|
Total Time
|
1
|
KIPKOECH CHIRCHIR - Nedbank
|
|
5894
|
28
|
M
|
33:05.1
|
2
|
FRANS MOGASHEA
|
|
6210
|
30
|
M
|
33:07.5
|
3
|
TEBOGO SEGALOGALA
|
|
3699
|
23
|
M
|
34:10.8
|
Derocious Makhobolo second in Springs
Sunday 7 February
Derocious Makhobolo who is line to represent South Africa at the Africa Cross Country Championships in Yaoundé, Cameroon on 12 March (he is in the preliminary squad, the official one not being announced yet), will be happy with his preparations as he finished runner up in the Garbie Springs Striders 32km in a time of 1:50.36 with team mate Tumelo Mahlangu taking the third spot.
Also on the podium were Andronica Mokotla in the ladies’ race and Nomasonto was third veteran.
All in all, a good weekend for the Nedbank Running Club.