It is clear that as the year 2018 is progressing, athletes from the Nedbank Running Club (NRC) are getting stronger and fitter, painting podiums green at numerous races countrywide.
In one of the most well known races of the weekend - the Bidvest McCarthy Toyota Half Marathon & 10km in Pretoria - the Green Dream Team made a clean sweep of most podium positions. It was great to see three of the country’s top female runners – and team mates - share the very same podium. Pregnant Irvette van Zyl blitzed across the finish line to clinch victory in the half marathon event in a time of 1:19:20. Fourth place finisher at the 2017 Comrades Marathon Gerda Steyn was hot on her heels to finish in second position in a time of 1:20:20. She was followed by Comrades Champion Charné Bosman, who crossed the line in 1:20:42.
This was Van Zyl’s third victory in recent weeks. She won the Dis-Chem Half Marathon in Bedfordview on 14 January in a time of 1:18:44 and followed that up with a 34 minute 10km at the George Claassen Road Race in Pretoria. Teammate Steyn, who recently returned from Abu Dhabi where she ran a 10km PB of 34:29, showed she is in top form with her second place finish. Veteran runner and Comrades Champ Bosman also delivered an excellent performance, especially in the light of her winning the recent Johnson Crane Marathon in a time of 2:54:59. Fantastic work by these three NRC ladies!
Peter Medupe flew the flag high for the Veteran men from the NRC when he crossed the line at the same race in first position in a time of 1:12:08. Teammate Eric Skosana followed him in third position in a time of 1:19:29.
NRC athletes also delivered sterling performances at the Amobia Bay Ultra over 50km in Port Elizabeth. Melikhaya Kepe and George Ntshiliza finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Kepe crossed the line second in a time of 3:01:34 while Ntshiliza finished third in a time 3:09:42. Kepe was also the first Veteran man home. Their teammates Sandile Ngunuza and Anele Maliza followed in 4th (3:10:18) and 5th position (2:13:55) respectively. The NRC lady who never seizes to amaze, Ntombesintu Mfunzi, claimed victory in the women’s race when she crossed the line in 3:55:36.
Last but not least, another great performance came from Bulelwa Simae who finished second lady overall and first Veteran at the Spartan Harriers Firgrove Half Marathon when she crossed the line in 1:25:27.
RESULTS
BIDVEST MCCARTHY TOYOTA HALF MARATHON & 10KM, 3 FEBRUARY, RIETONDALE, PRETORIA
Half Marathon
MEN
Veterans
1. Peter Medupe (NRC) 1:12:08
2. Eric Skosana (NRC) 1:19:29
8. Sekgwane Moloele (NRC) 1:25:02
WOMEN
Open
1. Irvette Van Zyl (NRC) 1:19:20
2. Gerda Steyn (NRC) 1:20:20
3. Charné Bosman (NRC) 1:20:42
Veterans
1. Charné Bosman (NRC) 1:20:42
Masters
2. Annatjie Strydom (NRC) 1:52:01
10Km
MEN
Open
3. Kgosi Tsosane (NRC) 32:53
5. K Chirchir (NRC) 34:30
DG PANEL & PAINT 32 KM & 16 KM, DURBAN, 4 FEBRUARY
32 km
WOMEN
Open
1. Loveness Madziva ?(NRC/ZIM) 2:17:20
AMOBIA BAY ULTRA 50KM & HALF MARATHON?, PORT ELIZABETH, 3 FEBRUARY
50 km
MEN
Open
2. Melikhaya Kepe (NRC)?3:01:34 (1st Vet)
3. George Ntshiliza (NRC) 3:09:42 ?
4. Sandile ?Ngunuza (NRC) 3:10:18
5. Anele ?Maliza (NRC) 3:13:55
Veterans
1. Melikhaya Kepe (NRC) 3:01:34
2. Anele Maliza (NRC) 3:13:55
Masters
2. Christopher Mabengeza (NRC) 3:21:56
Grandmasters
1. Clifford?Hicken (NRC) 4:20:12
WOMEN
Open
1. Ntombesintu ?Mfunzi (NRC) 3:55:36
2. Davera ?Magson (NRC) 4:01:09 (1st Vet)
4. Thembela Van der Berg (NRC) 4:45:06
Veterans
1. Davera Magson (NRC) 4:01:09
Masters
2. Buyelwa Kobokana (NRC) 4:50:52?
Half Marathon
MEN
Masters
1. Mutekile Rasmeni (NRC) 1:24:38 ?
3. Sidwel Roboshi (NRC) 1:34:13 ?
Great Grandmasters
1. Tamsanqa Jusayi (NRC) 1:43:48 ?
3. Cilliers Swart (NRC) 1:53:46 ?
Juniors
1. Anele Voorman (NRC) 1:25:06
WOMEN ?
Veterans
1. Grizelda Pietersen (NRC) 1:44:44 ?
2. Priscilla Dyantyi (NRC) 1:45:14 ??
Great Grandmasters
1. Ronelle Steyn (NRC) 2:18:04
SASOL MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 10 KM, SASOLBURG, 3 FEBRUARY
Marathon
MEN
Open
8. Odwa Tunyiswa (NRC) 2:33:10
10. Lucas Nonyana (NRC) 2:34:49
Great Grandmasters
1. Pele Tshikundamalema (NRC) 3:55:49
Half Marathon
MEN
Veterans
2. Tsitsi Mokoena (NRC) 80:21
Grandmasters
2. Abram Mafobokoane (NRC) 1:55:52
10 km
WOMEN?
Masters
2. Heather Kappmeier (NRC) 54:47
SPARTAN HARRIERS FIRGROVE CHALLENGE, 21.1KM & 10KM, TOKAI, 3 FEBRUARY
Half Marathon
WOMEN
Open
2. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 1:25:27 (1st Vet)
5. Ivy Gongqa (NRC) 1:31:15
7. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 1:32:18 (1st Master)
Veterans
1. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 1:25:27
Masters
1. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 1:32:18
10 km
MEN
Open
4. Vakalisa Kopolo (NRC) 32:30 (1st Vet)
Veterans
1. Vakalisa Kopolo (NRC) 32:30
Masters
1. Anton Engelbrecht (NRC) 38:22
2. Friedl van der Merwe (NRC) 38:59
Grandmasters
1. Sam Kotze (NRC) 45:56
WOMEN
Open
3. Vuyiseka Nkumenge (NRC) 37:13
5. Nomvuyisi Seti (NRC) 38:14
Grandmasters
3. Charmaine Cupido (NRC) 49:01
GLENCORE IZIMBIWA COAL 5-IN-1 RACE, MIDDELBURG, 3 FEBRUARY
32KM
MEN
Open
1. Thulani Manana (NRC) 01.56
DE DEKKE SPAR MARATHON & 10KM, GROOT BRAKRIVIER, 3 FEBRUARY
10KM
MEN
Open
1. Lloyd Bosman (NRC) 31:03
2. Godwin Heyns (NRC) 33:22
4. Selwyn Losper (NRC) 37:33
Masters
1. Selwyn Losper (NRC) 37:33
Walkers
1. Bradley Carelse (NRC) 53:23
WOMEN
Grandmasters
1. Mariette de Haan (NRC) 59:34
Great Grandmasters
1. Annamarie van Eck (NRC) 1:16
Walkers
1. Karin Otto (NRC) 1:11
Marathon
MEN
Open
1. Lindile Tokota (NRC) 2:46:22
2. Anton Chavellier (NRC) 3:16:20
Grandmasters
1. Andre Bernardo (NRC) 3:57:33
WOMEN
Grandmasters
1. Annatjie Botes (NRC) 3:38:41