At least 30 podium positions belonged to athletes from the Nedbank Running Club (NRC) who showed their dominance at races from KZN all the way to Gauteng!
In one of the biggest races of the weekend – the Durban City Marathon – NRC athletes dominated, with 4 men and 5 women amongst the top 10 men and ladies. Sibusiso Nzima (2:17:53), Melly Kennedy Kiptoo (2:17:55) and Sithembele Fanekho (2:28:26) took 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. Nzima and Kiptoo (who was fourth in the recent Two Oceans Marathon) put on a thrilling display of running when they finished barely 2 seconds apart.
In the women’s race Loveness Madziva (2:47:21) won while team mate Susy Chemaimak (2:51:34) finished 2nd. Further domination came in the half marathon where Bernard Kiptomoi (Kenya) won in 1:05:33.
In Gauteng the Jackie Gibson race (SA’s oldest marathon) saw Jonas Makhele finishing 3rd overall (72:37) while Phillip Phakwago placed 1st Veteran (73:10). Annemie Beukes finished 3rd lady (1:45:36) while Laura Venter placed 1st Master (1:58:34). Zeb Mokonoto secured another podium position for the NRC when he placed 2nd Master (40:06) in the 10km event.
An impressive list leader was recorded this weekend when Veteran Mthandazo Qhina clocked 1:09:29 in the WP Half Marathon Champs. He was followed home by Vakalisa Kopolo in 3rd place (1:12:29). Another 6 podium places were clinched by NRC athletes at the Leapfrog Gordon’s Bay Half Marathon. The ever-consistent women Bulelwa Simae, Busisiwe Matiwane, Obertina Kanyongo, Olga Howard and Charmaine Cupido all finished on the podium in their respective categories.
More success followed at the KKI Volstruiswedlope in Oudshoorn with Lloyd Bosman (1:16:56) ?and John April (1:17:39) taking 1st and 2nd positions, André Barnardo finishing 1st Grandmaster and Allalize Visser 3rd female overall. In the 10km event it was 1st, 2nd and 3d positions for Godwin Heyns, Francois Maquassa and Anderson Ncube.
Onwards and Upwards!
RESULTS
JACKIE GIBSON MARATHON, ALLAN FERGUSON HALF MARATHON & 10 KM, JOHANNESBURG, 15 APRIL?
Half Marathon
MEN
Open
3. Jonas Makhele (NRC) 72:37
Veterans
1. Phillip Phakwago (NRC) 73:10
WOMEN
Open
3. Annemie Beukes (NRC) 1:45:36
Masters
1. Laura Venter (NRC) 1:58:34
10 km
MEN?
Masters
2. Zeb Mokonoto (NRC) 40:06
DURBAN CITY MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 10 KM, DURBAN, 15 APRIL
Marathon
MEN
Open
1. Sibusiso Nzima (NRC) 2:17:53
2. Melly Kennedy Kiptoo (NRC/KEN) 2:17:55
3. Sithembele Fanekho (NRC) 2:28:26
7. Thulani Duma (NRC) 2:33:59?
WOMEN
Open
1. Loveness Madziva (NRC/ZIM/) 2:47:21
2. Susy Chemaimak (NRC/KEN) 2:51:34
7. Danielle Adlam (NRC) 3:26:04
9. Sibongile Ziqubu (NRC) 3:29:04
10. Fikile Mbuthuma (NRC) 3:29:05
Half Marathon
Men
Open
1. Bernard Kiptomoi (NRC/KEN) 1:05:33
LEAPFROG GORDON'S BAY HALF MARATHON & LABOURWISE 10 KM (WP HALF-MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS)?GORDON'S BAY, 14 APRIL
Half Marathon
MEN
Veterans
1. Mthandazo Qhina (NRC) 1:09:29
3. Vakalisa Kopolo (NRC) 1:12:29
WOMEN
Open
3. Nomvuyisi Seti (NRC) 1:27:09
Veterans
1. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 1:31:36
2. Busisiwe Matiwane (NRC) 1:38:50
Masters
1. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 1:34:32
3. Olga Howard (NRC) 1:38:47
Grandmasters
2. Charmaine Cupido (NRC) 1:55:23
10 km
MEN
Grandmasters
3. Sam Kotze (NRC) 47:53
KKI VOLSTRUISWEDLOPE, OUDTSHOORN, 7 APRIL?(DISTANCES: 21.1 KM & 10 KM.
Half Marathon
MEN
Open
1. Lloyd Bosman (NRC) 1:16:56 ?
2. John April ?(NRC) 1:17:39
Grandmasters
1. André Barnardo (NRC) 1:40:54
WOMEN
Open ?
3. Annalize Visser (NRC) 1:46:43 ?
Masters
1. Evangeline Bernardo (NRC) 2:06:42
10 km
MEN
Open
1. Godwin Heyns (NRC) 32:28 ?
2. Francios Maquassa (NRC) 33:25 ?
3. Anderson Ncube (NRC) 33:56 ?
WOMEN
Great Grandmasters
1. Cecilia Swiegers (NRC) 1:17:10