The Green Dream Team racked up victories at several races on the road and trails the past week. While Comrades gold medallist Gerda Steyn proved she is Comrades ready with her speedy 10km victory at the RAC 10km, teammate Deanne Horn took first place at one of South Africa’s top 2-day trail running events.
Steyn stormed to first place at the RAC/Sweatshop 10km in Randburg, crossing the line in a time of 35:38 on a very undulating course, proving she is in fine form for the big day.
Horn made sure she flew the NRC flag high on the trails with her domination of the ITEC Oxpecker Trail Run, one of South Africa’s top 2-day trail running events. Horn took the women’s title in an overall time of 2:39.
At another top event in the country Joel Mmone did the Green Dream Team proud when he made it into the top ten at the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN, a race which was stacked with a stellar field indeed. Mmone finished in 34:35, placing himself amongst the first twelve men to run faster than 35 minutes. Veteran teammate Vakalisa Kopolo finished 3rd Veteran (39:48).
The NRC women did exceptionally well at this race, especially within their age categories. While Rudo Mhonderwa finished 8th lady overall Obertina Kanyongo and Olga Howard finished 1st and 2nd Master ladies. Grandmaster Charmaine Cupido crossed the line as 3rd Grandmaster.
More great results followed at the Africa Day Half Marathon in East London with Lebenya Nkoka taking 2nd position and the ever-consistent Two Oceans gold medallist Ntombesintu Mfunzi finishing first lady. Bulelwa Simae took first Veteran.
The Polokwane Mayoral Half Marathon looked like a NRC time trial with 6 NRC ladies finishing within the top ten women. Mamarolla Tjoka, Rutendo Nyahora and Portia Ngwenya took the three podium positions while Jennifer Koech, Tabitha Tsatsa and Jacinta Mboani placed 4th, 7th and 8th, excellent results indeed from the NRC’s women’s team.
Youngsters from the NRC did exceptionally well this past weekend with great performances at the RAC 10km as well as the CGA Cross-Country in Orange Farm. One of the greatest performances came from 14-year-old Thabiso Sefatsa, who finished his first ever 10km in a time of 37:56, winning the U/15 category at the RAC 10km. Junior Kutlwisiso Sidinile not only took first Junior in 32:35 but also finished 8th overall.
RESULTS
FNB CAPE TOWN 12 ONERUN,?MILNERTON TO CAPE TOWN, 20 MAY
MEN
Open
10. Joel Mmone (NRC) 34:35
Veterans
3. Vakalisa Kopolo (NRC) 39:48
WOMEN
Open
8. Rudo Mhonderwa (NRC/ZIM) 42:02
Masters
1. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 50:07
2. Olga Howard (NRC) 52:42
Grandmasters
3. Charmaine Cupido (NRC) 59:16
AFRICA DAY HALF MARATHON, EAST LONDON, 20 MAY
MEN
Open
2. Lebenya Nkoka (NRC/LES) 1:04:40
5. Kabelo Lesia (NRC/LES) 1:05:20
9. Sithembele Faneko (NRC) 1:06:40
WOMEN
Open
1. Ntombesintu Mfunzi (NRC) 1:18:36
6. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 1:28:49 (1st Vet)
Veterans
1. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 1:28:49
POLOKWANE MAYORAL HALF MARATHON & 10 KM, POLOKWANE, 19 MAY
Half Marathon
MEN
Open
9. Phillimon Mathipa (NRC) 66:25
Veterans
3. Coolboy Ngamole (NRC) 70:16
Great Grandmasters
3. Pele Tshidukudamalema (NRC) 1:48:42
Juniors
1. Sakhile Dhladhla (NRC) 68:44
WOMEN
Open
1. Mamarolla Tjoka (NRC/LES) 77:55
2. Rutendo Nyahora (NRC/ZIM) 77:59
3. Portia Ngwenya (NRC) 79:12
4 Jennifer Koech (NRC/KEN) 79:26
7. Tabitha Tsatsa (NRC/ZIM) 85:36 (1st Vet)
8. Jacinta Mboani (NRC) 87:22
Veterans
1. Tabitha Tsatsa (NRC/ZIM) 85:36
10 km
MEN
Open
2. Givemore Mudzinganyama (NRC/ZIM) 30:33
4. Jacob Malefo (NRC) 30:59
10. Tebogo Segalagala (NRC) 32:17
Veterans
1. Enoch Skosana (NRC) 34:12
2 Phillimon Manyaka (NRC) 34:39
WOMEN
Open
5. Joyce Netshifhefhe (NRC) 42:10
7. Hilda Molokomme (NRC) 42:59
Veterans
2. Patience Nkosi (NRC) 46:20
RAC SWEATSHOP/ASICS 10KM, RANDBURG, 20 MAY
WOMEN
Open
1. Gerda Steyn (NRC) 35:38
6. Andronica Mokgotla (NRC)
MEN
Open
8. Kutlwisiso Sidinile (NRC) 32:35
10. Lucky Mtshali (NRC) 32:47
Juniors U/15
1. Thabiso Sefatsa (NRC) 37:56
Juniors U/18
1. Kutlwisiso Sidinile (NRC) 32:35
WOMEN
Juniors U/17
1. Amely Chauke (NRC)
2. Thembikile Mabunda (NRC)
EMADADENI HALF MARATHON & 10KM, KZN, 20 MAY
10KM
MEN
Open
2. Sibusiso Kubheka (NRC) 30:56
6. Phakamani Kunene (NRC) 31:56
Half Marathon
MEN
Open
1. Bonginkosi Mavuso (NRC) 68.02
Team Prize
Bonginkosi Mavuso
Thulani Manana
Mthembeni Nzama
ITEC OCPECKER TRAIL RUN, HALFWAY BETWEEN JHB & DURBAN, 19/20 MAY
WOMEN
1. Deanne Horn (NRC) 2:39
CGA CROSS-COUNTRY, LEAGUE NO 3, ORANGE FARM, 19 MAY
8KM JUNIOR RACE
2. Kutlwisiso Sidinile
6KM JUNIOR WOMEN
2. Welma Nkuna
U/15 Boys
7. Thabiso Sefatsa
POLOKWANE EXECUTIVE MAYORS 10/21, LIMPOPO, 19 MAY
10KM
MEN
Open
4. J. Molefo (NRC) 30:59
Veterans
1. Eric Skosana (NRC) 34:12
2. P. Manyaka (NRC) 34:39
WOMEN
Open
3. H. Molokomme (NRC) 42:59
Veterans
2. P. Nkosi (NRC) 46:20
Half Marathon
MEN
Open
8. P. Mathiba (NRC) 1:06:25
Veterans
3. C. Ngamole (NRC) 1:10:10
4. P. Phakwayo (NRC) 1:11:28
WOMEN
Open
1. M. Tjoka (NRC) 1:17:55
2. R. Nyahora (NRC) 1:17:59
3. P. Ngwenya (NRC) 1:19
Veterans
1. T. Tsatsa (NRC) 1:25:36
2. J. Mboani (NRC) 1:27:36
BONJALA PLATINUM MUNICIPALITY 10/21KM, NORTH WEST, 19 MAY
Half Marathon
MEN
Open
1. E. Mothibi (NRC) 1:07:26
Veterans
3. J. Mabapa (NRC) 1:15:43
10KM
MEN
Open
4. M. Kgomotso (NRC) 31:27