NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB MAKES CLEAN SWEEEP AT HIGHLY CONTESTED GABORONE MARATHON

Athletes from the Nedbank Running Club (NRC) made a clean sweep at this past weekend’s highly contested Diacore Gaborone Marathon, taking all three podium positions in the men’s marathon and two podiums in the men’s half marathon.

Great performances came from Sibusiso Nzima, Isaac Mpofu and Ngonidzashe Ncube who finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively in the men’s marathon while teammates Joel Mmone and David Manja took 1st and 2nd in the men’s half marathon.

The Green Dream Team was up against some very strong international competition with 44 countries being represented at the race. Apart from Botswana’s elite long distance team, many elite runners from countries such as Kenya, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Europe, China, Japan and Namibia competed for the coveted incentive of R1 200 000 (1 Million Pula Challenge) for the first runner to break 2:08 for the marathon.

Clearly there was no match for the Green Dream Team with three podium positions and four positions within the Top Ten in the men’s marathon. Add another three Top Ten positions in the men’s half marathon and it is clear the Green Dream Team showed all other countries who is currently dominating on the road running scene.

It was the third year that the NRC was invited by the organisers to partake in the event, and it seems every year performances from the NRC athletes are getting better and better. As an AIMS and IAAF certified event, and with well over 6 000 participants this year, this race is becoming more and more popular amongst elites and recreational runners.

“I am more than happy with the team’s performance. We dominated the race and I am very pleased,” says Pio Mpolokeng, Team Manager and Development Coach for the NRC. He says the team is back in South Africa and some of them are now focussing on the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN on Sunday in Cape Town. This race promises more exhilarating running as a strong local and international field will be lining up.

The Green Dream Team will be represented by Sibusiso Nzima, Phillemon Mathiba, Joel Mmone, David Manja and Namakwe Mkhasi. “I have especially high hopes for Joel, David and Namakwe, though I realise we will be up against some very strong competitors from especially Kenya,” says Mpolokeng.

DIACORE GABARONE MARATHON

RESULTS
Men
Marathon
1.    Sibusiso Nzima (NRC) 2:16:57
2.    Isaac Mpofu (NRC ZIM) 2:16:59
3.    Ngonidzashe Ncube (NRC ZIM) 2:17:50
7.    Obed Kopong (NRC) 2:24:18

Half Marathon
1.    Joel Mmone (NRC) 1:03:29
2.    David Manja (NRC) 1:04:27
7.    Ntshediso Nphakathi (NRC) 1:06:21

Join the Nedbank Green Dream Team at the 2018 Pretoria SPAR Women’s Challenge

The Race is On!

The 2018 Pretoria SPAR Women’s Challenge takes place at 14:00 on Saturday, 4th August at SuperSport Park in Centurion. As always, the race will offer 25 000 women from all walks of life, and all levels of fitness the opportunity to take part in a 5km or a 10km race.

The top SPAR Women’s Challenge runners will of course be competing for the winning spot in the SPAR Grand Prix Series which is made up of six SPAR Women’s Challenge 10km races hosted across the country. The Grand Prix Series challenges South Africa’s top female athletes to earn points based on their performance in each race. Last year, a sixth leg to the series was introduced in Pietermaritzburg and the competition was opened up to international runners who are now eligible to accumulate Grand Prix points. 2017 Pretoria SPAR Women’s Challenge winner,

Nedbank Running Club Athlete Irvette van Zyl will be defending her title. Also competing for top honors from Nedbank Running Club will be Rutendo Nyahora, Rudo Mhonderwa, Charne Bosman, Frances van Blerk and Patience Murowe

Racing for a Cause

Every year, numerous Pretoria based charity and community upliftment organizations are selected to benefit from the proceeds of the SPAR Women’s Challenge. “SPAR’s donations to the race beneficiaries are proof that when a community unites, we can find our wings together,” says Jacobs. “Over the years we have built relationships with our sponsors and race partners who have become a vital helping hand in supporting all of our community and social upliftment initiatives. This year we are aiming to donate R380 000 to our beneficiaries,” says Jacobs.

The race beneficiaries for 2018 are Jacaranda Good Morning Angles, the Chrysalis Foundation, Cupcakes 4 Kids with Cancer and the Hanna Charity and Empowerment Foundation.

How to Enter

Race entries are priced at R100 for all licensed 10km entrants, R130 for all non-licensed 10km entrants and R100 for the 5km fun run/walk entrants. There are two easy ways to enter the race. At participating SPAR and sports stores, entry forms are available to fill in and you can then immediately pay for your entry. You will be able to instantly walk out of the store with your race pack containing your race number, one-size-fits-all t-shirt, foam peak, copy of My Race magazine and GOSH lipstick. A list of participating stores is available on www.sparladiespta.co.za.

The second way to enter the race is online at www.sparladiespta.co.za. Entrants can follow the easy online entry steps (admin fee applies) and then they can collect their race pack at SuperSport Park Stadium in Centurion from 30 July 2018 – 3 August 2018 between 10h00 and 18h00 or on race day from 08h00 till 12h00. Regrettably collection is not available in-store for online entries.

For more information about the 2018 Pretoria SPAR Women’s Challenge, please like the “SPAR Women’s Challenge Pretoria” Facebook page, and follow the race on Twitter @SPARladiespta. Remember to use the hashtag #FindYourWingz and #SPARLadiesPTA to show your support, to let the social media world know how you found your wings and to tell the stories of the amazing women in your life who found their wingz by helping other or through achieving the impossible!

EVENT DIARY DETAILS:
Date: 4 August 2018
Time: 14:00
Venue: SuperSport Park Stadium, Centurion, Pretoria
Entrance: R100 per person for the 10km or 5km, R130 for unlicensed 10km runners. Entries in SPAR Stores or online through www.sparladiespta.co.za.
Facebook: SPAR Women’s Challenge Pretoria
Twitter: @SPARladiespta

All participants receive a one-size-fits-all t-shirt, a foam peak, race number, and a copy of My Race magazine and a GOSH lipstick when they enter. All participants will receive a medal of participation and a SPAR goodie bag on race day. The lucky draw prize giving takes place on the main stage on race day.

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Familiarize yourself with the Confirmed 2018 Comrades Marathon Cut-Offs so that there is no surprises on the day

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has confirmed the official cut-offs for the 93rd edition of the race. CMA Race Director, Rowyn James has advised that this year’s Down Run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday, 10 June 2018 will have six official cut-offs along the 90.184km route.
The first cut-off will be implemented at Lion Park with subsequent cut-offs positioned at Cato Ridge, the halfway mark in Drummond, Winston Park, Pinetown and with the final one at Sherwood.

James says, “The cut-offs, which have been carefully worked out with extensive input from the Official Comrades Coach are an important facet of the race and are there for the well-being of the athlete. Should a runner not make any one of the cut-offs within the allotted time, they will then need to board one of the provided Bailer Buses for transportation through to the finish. Ignoring the instructions of the CMA Route Managers, Technical Officials, Security Services and/or marshals will lead to disqualification.”

POSSIBLE GOLD COMRADES MEDALIST WITHDRAWS FROM RACE

Wings for Life winner, Two Oceans second place finisher and possible Gold Medallist at the 2018 Comrades Marathon Dominika Stelmach sadly had to withdraw from this year’s Comrades Marathon due to injury.

Stelmach, who is part of the Nedbank Running Club’s Green Dream Team, and who has won four Wings for Life World Run races on four different continents, claiming the 2017 overall female winner title, was crowned the South African female champion at the Wings for Life race held last week in Pretoria.

“This was my toughest race yet. The weather was brutal, and it was really hot. I’m really happy to have won another country title and was afforded the opportunity to race in South Africa this year,” said Stelmach after reaching 49.4km before being overtaken by the Catcher Car.

Sadly things did not bid well for Stelmach after this race, having picked up an injury involving a tear to her soleus muscles. “This means about a two week break, and therefore Comrades can be too risky for me this year,” said Stelmach.

Her withdrawal comes as a huge disappointment as she performed brilliantly at the recent Two Oceans Ultra. She was passed by South Africa’s Gerda Steyn with about 9km to go at the top of Constantia Neck, but still managed to finish in 3:41, roughly two minutes behind Steyn, who clinched the race in 3:39.

Stelmach vowed to be back in full force at the 2019 Comrades Marathon.

FROM GAUTENG TO GABARONE: THERE IS NO STOPPING THE GREEN DREAM TEAM

Another great week for athletes from the Nedbank Running Club (NRC) who showed their competition exactly why they are called the Green Dream Team. From Gauteng to Gabarone it was clear that there is no stopping the NRC.

In Gauteng former Comrades winner Charné Bosman proved she is more than ready for the Comrades Marathon when she clocked a 96:16 in what she described as a solid training run at the Jackie Mekler 25km in Pretoria this past weekend. She not only won the Women’s Open category but also placed first Veteran. Teammate Jennifer Koech was second.

In Cape Town The Slave Route Challenge was dominated by the NRC with no less than 14 NRC athletes placing on the podium in the half marathon and 10km distances. The NRC ladies took podium positions in all categories - Open, Veterans, Masters and Grandmasters - while the men made sure they scored well in the Open and Veterans categories.

In Port Elizabeth another 11 podium positions went to NRC athletes at the Sunridge Village 10km.

It is not just on the road where the NRC dominated, the cross-country KZN league meeting in Durban saw the NRC ladies making a clean sweep with all 3 podium positions going to the ladies in green.

Across the borders the Green Dream Team flew the flag high at the Diacore Gabarone Marathon. The NRC was up against some very strong international competition with 44 countries being represented at the highly contested race. Five podium positions went to the NRC men.

Onwards and Upwards

For more results Click Here