Across the country athletes of the Nedbank Running Club gave good reckoning of themselves during the past weekend. They made sure that there was a ‘green tint’ on the winners’ podiums of the races in which they took part.
In the McDonalds to McDonalds 10km race in George the Nedbank Running Club provided a perfect platform for athletes to set personal best times. Daniel Raubenheimer, chairman of the Nedbank Running Club in George, describes the route as one of the fastest in the Southern Cape.
The race regularly attracts some of the top names in distance running. It should be no surprise therefore that Zola Budd, one of the true legends of South African athletics, holds the women’s course record. She won the race in 2013 in a time of 36 minutes and 43 seconds.
It would seem that 2013 was the year for records. In the same year Lloyd Bosman (Nedbank) won in 29:49, which is still the fastest winning time in the McDonalds to McDonalds race.
Bosman (28) still seems to have a liking for the race because he won in a time of 30 minutes and 57 seconds this past weekend. The race was a classic example of age prevailing over youth. Godwin Heyns (Nedbank) (aged 18) was second in 31:57 and Donovan Jantjies (Outeniqua) (aged 19) was third in 32:24.
Elfonzo Pieterse (4th – 32:49), Francois Maquassa (5th – 32:59), Dullan Solomons (6th – 33:24) and Auschten October (9th – 34:57) were the other Nedbank athletes who finished in the top ten.
Melissa van Rensburg (Nedbank) won the women’s race in 38:07 with Macnita Samuels (Knysna) second in 40:49 and Lisl Grobler (Knysna) third in 41:22.
Annatjie Botes (Nedbank) is a living proof that there is no need to slow down, even if the numbers on your birth certificate keep adding up. The 58-year-old was the 5th woman to finish, averaging slightly more than four minutes per kilometre, which is certainly not too shabby. She finished in 42:43.
According to Raubenheimer, Botes has become almost an institution in local races. She usually wins the 50 – 59 years race category.
A total of 351 athletes finished the McDonalds to McDonalds race.
*****Athletes of the Nedbank Development Club in Soweto made their presence felt at the Northgate 10km Event. Five of the club’s athletes finished in the top ten.
Phillimon Mathiba was second in 31:56. Thabiso Lethabane finished fourth, Simon Mpholo fifth, Itumeleng Tshetlanyana sixth and Africa Mailola seventh.
Glen Lesenyeho won the junior men’s race and Simon Mpholo was second in the men’s veteran’s race.
Michelle Strydom finished third in the women’s 10km race. Nomasonto Sikhosana won the veteran women’s race.