With less than 17 days to the Two Oceans Marathon and less than 90 days to the Comrades Marathon it is evident that athletes from the Nedbank Running Club (NRC) are rearing to go. Many preparing for Oceans or Comrades delivered another round of great performances over the past weekend while the shorter distance speedsters took over podiums countrywide.
Loveness Madziva was most likely the biggest winner of the weekend as she was rewarded with a car for winning the Zululand 56km Ultra Marathon. This comes a mere six days after she won another car at the Harry Gwala District Marathon, where she crossed the finish line as first lady.
Other great performances at the same race came from Madziva’s team mates Monica Kativhu, who finished second lady overall and Lephethesang Adora who finished 3rd Senior overall. Both the NRC’s men and women’s teams won the Open team prizes for the 56km event.
In one of the biggest races over the weekend – the Pharmaton Edenvale Marathon – Siyabonga Dingile finished 3rd male overall in a time of 2:36 while his speedy team mate Phillemon Mathipa finished 1st in the 10km event in a time of 33:33.
NRC athletes showed that tough routes do not scare them when many achieved podium positions at the very tough Tortoise Tuff 30km, 10km & 21 Trail Run in Sedgefield. Melissa van Rensburg broke the 21km Trail Run record by 20 minutes, crossing the finish line in 1:51. Anderson Ncube won the Open Men’s event with Anton Chavellier winning the Masters Category.
The 30km event, classified as possibly the most challenging 30km route on the Garden Route, was won by John April in a time of 1:48. His teammate Andre Barnardo finished 1st in the Grandmaster category while Cecile Nel finished 2nd in the Open Women’s category. Master Allison Jordaan and Grandmaster Annatjie Botes both won their respective categories. The shorter distance speedsters placed very well in the 10km event with Godwin Heyns, Francois Maquassa and Donovan Jantjies finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. Lindile Tokota took first in the Masters Category while
Anastassia Plaatjies and Candice Van Beulen finished 1st and 2nd in the Open Ladies category. Beulen also finished 1st Junior.
NRC was well represented at another huge race in Pretoria with former Comrades winner Charné Bosman winning the Buco Bobbies Half Marathon, in a time of 1:23. Teammate Renier Grobler won the Men’s 10km event in a time of 33:01.
More good news came in the form of NRC Junior Kutlwisiso Sidinile, who has been selected to represent his country at the African Cross-Country Champs in Algeria on March 17th. Sidinile’s dream of representing his country came true after 3 years of some great support and development from the NRC, especially Siyaya Khoza, Soweto Nedbank Development Club chairman and coach. Sidinile travels with senior teammates David Manja and Thabang Mosiako and will compete this weekend.
Last but not least NRC athletes said their farewells to champion teammate and Comrades gold medallist Siphiwe Ndlela, who recently passed away at a training camp after taking some herbal medicine. Teammates from KZN partook in a special walk in memory of Ndlela while several attended his funeral in Ixopo where he was laid to rest near his home soil.
RESULTS
PHARMATON EDENVALE MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 10 KM, EDENVALE, 11 MARCH
Marathon
MEN
Open
3. Siyabonga Dingile (NRC) 2:36:03 (Defending champion)
10 km
MEN
Open
1. Phillemon Mathipa (NRC) 33:33
SPORTSMANS WAREHOUSE 15 KM, PORT ELIZABETH, 10 MARCH
MEN
Open
5. George Ntshiliza (NRC) 50:56 ??
8. Rodney Prins (NRC) 51:44 ?
40-44
1. Melikhaya Kepe (NRC) 55:45 ?
45-49
2. Luvuyo Stephen (NRC) 1:00:22 ?
70-74?
2. Cilliers Swart (NRC) 1:17:32 ??
75-79
1. Tamsanqa Jusayi (NRC) 1:14:26 ?
Juniors
1. Dylan Miggels (NRC) 1:03:59 ?
WOMEN
Open
2. Ibet Allan (NRC) 1:00:45 (1st Veteran) ??
6. Davera Magson (NRC) 1:09:02 ??
8. Grizelda Pietersen (NRC) 1:11:17 ?
40-44
1. Ibet Allan (NRC) 1:00:45 ?
3. Davera Magson (NRC) 1:09:02 ?
45-49
1. Grizelda Pietersen (NRC) 1:11:17 ?
2. Toegeda Vyver (NRC) 1:15:53 ?
70-74
2. Ronelle Steyn (NRC) 1:37:38?
CONSTANTIA VILLAGE K-WAY 15 KM, CONSTANTIA, 10 MARCH
MEN
Veterans
1. Vakalisa Kopolo (NRC) 49:29
WOMEN
Open
2. Nomvuyisi Seti (NRC) 57:35
3. Vuyiseka Ngumenge (NRC) 57:53
4. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 58:03 (1st vet)
Veterans
1. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 58:03
Masters
1. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 62:28
Grandmasters
2. Charmaine Cupido (NRC) 76:58
BUCO BOBBIES WONDERBOOM HALF MARATHON & 10 KM PRETORIA, 10 MARCH
Half Marathon
MEN
Great Grandmasters
1. Pele Tshikundamalema (NRC) 1:54:55
WOMEN
1. Charné Bosman (NRC) 1:23:47 (1st Vet)
Veterans
1. Charné Bosman (NRC) 1:23:47
10 km
MEN
Open
1. Renier Grobler (NRC) 33:01
Veterans
1. Micnuci Nkosi (NRC) 39:19
ZULULAND 56 KM ULTRAMARATHON & 10 KM, NONGOMA TO ULUNDI, 10 MARCH
56 km
MEN
Open
3. Lephethesang Adoro (NRC/ETH) 3:22:59
7. Mziwenkosi Mjaja (NRC) 3:34:01 ?
Open team prize
Mzwenkosi Mjaja 3:34.01
Mthembeni Nzama 3:40
Xolani Bunge 4:05.36
Walter Mjwara 4:05.36
WOMEN
Open
1. Loveness Madziva (NRC/ZIM) 4:04:00
2. ?Monica Kativhu (NRC/ZIM) 4:38:53
7. ?Precious Duma (NRC) 5:17:16
9. ?Ntombifithi Ncayiyane (NRC) 5:34:38
10. Sibongile Ziqubu (NRC) 5:36:11
Open team prize
Precious Duma 5:17.16
Ntombifuthi Ncsyiyana 5:34.38
Sibongile Ziqubu 5:36.11
Maureen Dladla 5:53
10KM
MEN
Open
4. Sibusiso Kubheka (NRC) 31:16
8. Bonginkosi Mavuso (NRC) 31:47
Open team prize
Sibusiso Kubheka 31:16
Bonginkosi Mavuso 31:47
Sipho Hlatshwayo 32:16
Sikhumbuzo Nhlengethwa 33:25
50-59
3. Bhekuyise Makhubu (NRC) 43:57
THE CRAZY STORE LIGHTHOUSE 10 KM, CAPE TOWN, 7 MARCH
MEN?
Veterans
1 Vakalisa Kopola (NRC) 33:09
Grandmasters
2. Henry Cleophas (NRC) 47:08
WOMEN ?
Veterans ?
3. Busisiwe Matiwane (NRC) 42:29
Masters
1. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 41:39 ?
Grandmasters
2. Charmaine Cupido (NRC) 50:31 ?
TORTOISE TUFF 30KM, 10KM & 21KM TRAIL RUN, SEDGEFIELD, 10 MARCH
10KM RUN
MEN
Open
1. Godwin Heyns (NRC) 32:09
2. Francois Maquassa (NRC) 32:50
3. Donovan Jantjies (NRC) 34:22
Masters
1. Lindile Tokota (NRC) 34:30
WOMEN
Open
1. Anastassia Plaatjies (NRC) 44:16
2. Candice Van Beulen (NRC) 46:23 (1st Junior)
Junior
1. Candice Van Beulen (NRC) 46:23
Veterans
1. Leatitia du Toit (NRC) 1:02:52
10KM WALK
MEN
Open
1. Maxwell Brown (NRC) 1:01:54
WOMEN
Open
1. Liezel Van Wyk (NRC) 1:03:18
2. Karen Otto (NRC) 1:08:00
3. Alida Bailey (NRC) 1:12:30
Masters
1. Alida Bailey (NRC) 1:12:30
Grandmasters
1. Karen Otto (NRC) 1:08:00
Great Grandmasters
1. Geraldine Loftie-Eaton (NRC) 01:22:10
21KM TRAIL RUN
MEN
Open
1. Anderson Ncube (NRC) 1:35:14
3. Gershwill Jacobs (NRC) 1:43:50
Masters
1. Anton Chavellier (NRC) 1:56:12
Women
Open
1. Melissa Van Rensburg (NRC) 1:51:15
30KM
MEN
Open
1. John April (NRC) 1:48:50
Grandmasters
1. Andre Barnardo (NRC) 2:36:16
WOMEN
Open
2. Cecile Nel (NRC) 2:24:35
Masters
1. Allison Jordaan (NRC) 2:47:48
Grandmasters
1. Annatjie Botes (NRC) 2:26:52
WALKERS
Women
1. Jackie Calitz (NRC) 3:57:05