Athletes from the Nedbank Running Club (NRC) blitzed to victory and podium positions at various races countrywide, with some brilliant performances at especially two of the country’s biggest races this past weekend.
The ladies from the NRC Gerda Steyn and Charné Bosman showed that they are well on track with their training towards the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon as well as the Comrades Marathon. Steyn won the Bronkhortspruit 32km in a time of 2:09:38 with teammate Bosman finishing third (and 1st Vet) in a time of 2:19:35. Their performances follow shortly after both placed well at the Bidvest McCarthy Toyota Half Marathon a week earlier. Steyn finished second there with Bosman just behind her in third position.
Bosman, a huge crowd favourite, proved why she is so popular amongst the running community when - the day after the Bronkhorstspruit 32km - she jogged the Pick n Pay Half Marathon, whilst helping a group of slower runners achieve their finishing times.
Another NRC lady who excelled this past weekend is Deanne Horn, who won the Klerksdorp Marathon in a time of 3:02:08.
The senior men from the NRC did their club proud when all three podium positions at the Pick n Pay Marathon were taken by Rofhiwa Mathidi (2:28:55), Jonas Makhele (2:30:49) and Kgathatso Checha (2:31:16). Indeed a show of green at prize giving!
At some of the smaller races over the weekend Nedbank Running Club’s brilliant and ever consistent Junior Anele Voorman finished 5th in the Open category and 1st Junior at the Love 2 Run Metlife Mall Valentine’s 10km. He blitzed to a 34:56 finish. His teammates and seniors George Ntshiliza (32:46) and Sandile Ngunuza (33:25) finished in 1st and 2nd position respectively. Another great performance came from Great Grandmaster Tamsanqa Jusayi, who at the age of 75 ran a 46:11 at the same race. Many runners half his age would not be able to run that time!
The NRC flag was held high in as far as Zimbabwe with Mike Fokoroni clinching a 2:21:37 victory at the Old Mutual Harare Marathon and team mate Samukeliso Moyo winning the women’s race in a time of 2:47:11.
Upwards and onwards indeed!
RESULTS
HILLCREST MARATHON & HALF MARATHON, ?HILLCREST, 11 FEBRUARY
MARATHON?
WOMEN?
Veterans
1. Sibongile Ziqubu (NRC) 3:36:20
LOVE 2 RUN METLIFE MALL VALENTINE'S 10 KM, PORT ELIZABETH, 10 FEBRUARY
MEN
Open
1. George Ntshiliza (NRC) 32:46 ?
2. Sandile Ngunuza (NRC) 33:25 ??
4. Anele Maliza (NRC) 34:35 (1st Vet) ?
5. Anele Voorman (NRC) 34:56 (1st Junior) ?
Veterans
1. Anele Maliza (NRC) 34:35 ?
3. Michael Prince (NRC) 40:29 ??
Grandmasters
3. Clifford Hicken (NRC) 44:07 ?
Great Grandmasters
1. Tamsanqa Jusayi (NRC) 46:11 ?
WOMEN
Great Grandmasters
2. Ronelle steyn (NRC) 1:03:01
BRONKHORSTSPRUIT 32 KM & 10 KM, BRONKHORSTSPRUIT, 10 FEBRUARY
32 km
WOMEN
Open
1. Gerda Steyn (NRC) 2:09:38
3. Charné Bosman (NRC) 2:19:35 (1st Vet)
Veterans
1. Charné Bosman (NRC) 2:19:35
TOP FORM 10 KM, ATHLONE, 10 FEBRUARY?
MEN?
Masters
3. Anton Engelbrecht (NRC) 38:28
WOMEN
Veterans
1. Coriaan de Villiers (NRC) 41:48
3. Ursula Frans (NRC) 42:23
Grandmasters
2. Bev Charters (NRC) 44:27
27 FOR FREEDOM 27 KM & 10 KM, PAARL, 10 FEBRUARY
27 km
MEN
Veterans
2. Sihle Mapukata (NRC) 1:50:07
Masters
3. Lorenzo Lucas (NRC) 1:56:00
WOMEN?
Veterans
2. Busisiwe Matiwane (NRC) 2:25:30
Masters
1. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 2:25:20
10 km
MEN
Veterans
1. Vakalisa Kopolo (NRC) 32:40
WOMEN?
Veterans
1. Suzette McIvor (NRC) 43:06
PICK N PAY HALF MARATHON & MARATHON, BEDFORDVIEW, 11 FEBRUARY
MARATHON
Men
Open
1. Rofhiwa Mathidi (NRC) 2:28:55
2. Jonas Makhele (NRC) 2:30:49
3. Kgathatso Checha (NRC) 2:31:16
Veterans
4. Phillip Phalwayo (NRC) 2:44:50
5. Bongane Zwane (NRC) 2:46:29
Half Marathon
MEN
Open
4. Leswene Africa Mailola (NRC) 1:12:22
5. Chamankwana Mailola (NRC) 1:12:44
Masters
4. Paulus Mofokeng (NRC) 1:36:55
OLD MUTUAL HARARE MARATHON, HARARE, 11 FEBRUARY
MEN
Open
1. Mike Fokoroni (NRC/ZIM) 2:21:37
WOMEN
Open
1. Samukeliso Moyo (NRC/ZIM) 2:47:11
SPAR VALENTINE’S 10KM, PRETORIA, 14 FEBRUARY
MEN
Open
2. Esau Radebe (NRC) 32:50
WOMEN
Masters
1. Ansa Strydom (NRC) 51:41
PALMS MALL VALENTINE 10 KM NIGHT RACE, VANDERBIJLPARK, 7 FEBRUARY (Note: The route was shortened by approximately 300 m due to unsafe conditions after a heavy thunderstorm.)
WOMEN
Open
2. Rose Jijana (NRC) 42:33
SANLAM 10 KM BELLVILLE, 7 FEBRUARY
MEN
Open?
3. Siyabonga Sakwe (NRC) 32:18
Veterans
3. Vuyani Sixaso (NRC) 34:34
Masters
3. Andrew Cooper (NRC) 37:06
Grandmasters
1. Robbie Lindsay (NRC) 43:46
WOMEN
Open
2. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 39:55 (1st Vet)
Veterans
1. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 39:55
2. Busisiwe Matiwane (NRC) 41:46
3. Sharon Sunderland (NRC) 44:19
Masters
1. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 43:15
3. Olga Howard (NRC) 46:36
Grandmasters
2. Charmaine Cupido (NRC) 50:27