Steyn defends her title in style

Nedbank running clubs Gerda Steyn successfully defended her Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon title from last year but it was the manner in which she did that really shone through.

In the build up to race day, much of the focus was on the Kenyan contingent in the Nedbank running club chasing after Thompson Magawana's 3:03:44 course record, which stood from 1988. With an inform Steyn as well as team mate Irvette Van Zyl making her ultra marathon debut, talk amongst the running fraternity was also leaning towards a possible record in the women's race but none of the women when asked had any inclination of going for it. Add to that, a route diversion over the much harder Ou Kaapse Weg announced 2 days before the race due to public safety concerns, and a record seemed a hard stretch.

On an Easter Saturday morning with conditions great for running, a leading trio of 3 quickly formed at the forefront of the race. Kenyan born Frenchman Abraham Kiprotich, the fastest marathon runner in the field thanks to his 2:08:33 assumed control of the race together with Nedbank teammates Isaac Kipkorir and defending champion Justin Cheshire Kemboi. Behind them a large group of athletes formed which included no fewer than 4 previous Two Oceans Marathon winners. The first checkpoint through 14km saw Kiprotich split in 44:53, an average tempo of 3:13 per km and already 40 seconds ahead of record pace. The chasing bunch at this stage was already close to a min behind.

In the ladies race, Nedbank Kenya's Priscilla Lorchima took control of the early stages in what for her was also an ultra marathon debut. Around 30 secs behind, Steyn, Van Zyl and Lesotho's Mamorallo Tjoka formed a pack, content to bide their time. Up front, Kiprotich kept at it and by 21km, was out on his own, with defending champion Cheshire choosing to drop back to the main bunch as Kiprotich kept reeling out kilometers close to 3mins at some stages.

The climb up Ou Kaapse Weg started and Kiprotich went through the halfway mark in 1:31:14, well under record pace and a full 2:07 ahead of David Gatebe who took the chase bunch through which included Nedbank athletes Cheshire, Ethiopian Sintayehu Yinesu, Melly Kennedy, former winner Lungile Gongqa as well as Lindikhaya Mthangayi. It was not long before Yinesu broke from the pack in an attempt to reel in Kiprotich who at this stage was showing no sign of slowing down.

In the women's race, Lorchima was passed by the trio headed by Steyn as the ladies went through half way in 1:46:28, showing that already, there was no chance of a record. With the first 3 athletes in the colors of Nedbank, teammates Lorchima came through in 5th, 1:06 down followed by Polish athlete Dominika Stelmach and Ethiopian Salem Alebachew in 6th and 7th, already 4:25 down.

The long descent down the other side of Ou Kaapse Weg slowly began showing on the face of Kiprotich as his lead, at one stage close to 3 mins, began dwindling and Yinesu started to catch his first glimpse of the struggling Frenchman. As they went through the marathon mark, Yinesu went into the lead and for a brief moment Kiprotich stuck behind him but it was short lived and the race for Kiprotich was now run.

Yinesu powered ahead and went through 46km with a lead of just over 1:00 and looked set for victory in his debut. In the ladies race, it was still the Nedbank trio of Steyn, Van Zyl and Tjoka who were in complete control of the race. Every now and then Steyn would throw in a small surge to test her teammates but it was always met with answers from Van Zyl and Tjoka. It was only through 40km that the chinks in armor started to show with Van Zyl starting to drift off the pack. Going off the side of the road, Van Zyl was running into trouble, battling with stomach issues.

Yinesu crested the top of Southern Cross drive upfront but the fatigue was showing in the tiny Ethiopians face and the question now was how long he could stay in the lead. It didn't take long to see 3 times Comrades winner Bongmusa Mthembu suddenly appear in the background, and a struggling Yinesu lost his lead as they went through 51km with 5km to go. Mthembu never looked back as he went on to record his maiden victory in 3:08:40. Behind him, defending champion Kemboi hung on to finish 3rd in 3:11:23. "It was a very tough race for me but I am just glad that my body was strong enough to still stay on the podium," said Kemboi. "Together with my Nedbank teammates in Kenya, we prepared specially for the record so it was a pity to come here and see they changed the course. In Kenya we did long runs focusing on doing hills where they were on the race. I saw from the long climb it wasn't possible so I reduced to go back to the pack."

Behind him, Yinesu held on to finish 4th with former winner of Two Oceans Mabhutile Lebopo from Nedbank Running Club Lesotho finishing 5th. Mthandazo Qhina had a storming run to finish 6th with Kenyan Jesse Gichui 7th and 2017 winner Gongqa in 8th. All in all, the Nedbank Running Club had 6 men in the top 10.

Back in the women’s race, Steyn continued to test Tjoka’s strength, but every time she did, Tjoka would have an answer. The ding-dong battle continued between the 2 until Steyn through in one last surge as they made their way to Southern Cross drive. It was the final sting in the tail for Tjoka, as she had no answer for Steyn. Steyn powered up the climb and looked set to defend her title from last year. With her ever so smiling presence, Steyn got faster and faster as she made her way into the UCT grounds. High fiving the spectators over the final 400 meters, Steyn crossed the line in 3:31:28, an agonizing 52 seconds short of the record and the R1 million rand that would have come with it. “I’m so happy to defend my title and that was the main purpose for me,” said a smiling Steyn. “With 8km to go I did notice that I was on for a fast time and also contemplated going harder but my main focus is the Comrades Marathon in 7 weeks so I didn’t want to do any damage to my legs. I can come back for the record next year!”

Tjoka hung on to finish 2nd in 3:38:22, a time that would have been good enough for the win in many previous years with Van Zyl finishing on the podium in 3rd on her first ever attempt at the ultra. “It was really tough out there and I started running into problems from around 40km,” said Van Zyl afterwards. “I was battling with my stomach and had to go off the side of the road a few times. It’s good to have an ultra marathon to my name now, but I need some time to decide if I will do another one soon.”

Stelmach stayed in her 4th position throughout most of the race and finished in 3:50:11 with early leader Lorchima 8th in 3:58:24.

It was a wonderful day for the Nedbank running club that saw the team take 11 of the 20 available

gold medals in the 56km and the first 4 women across the line. Attention now turns to the upcoming Comrades Marathon in 7 weeks time. After finishing 2nd last year, Steyn wants to make amends this time round. With this scintillating performance over the weekend, expect some big things on Comrades day.

Podium Results

56km
Top 10 Overall
Male
1 Bongmusa MTHEMBU 03:08:40 RSA ARTHUR FORD AC
2 David GATEBE 03:10:30 RSA IMPALA MARATHON CLUB
3 Justin Kemboi CHESIRE 03:11:23 KEN NEDBANK KENYA
4 Sintayehu Legese YINESU 03:12:34 ETH NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB ETHIOPIA
5 Mabhutile LEBOPO 03:16:04 LSO NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB LESOTHO
6 Mthandazo QHINA 03:17:33 RSA NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB CPT
7 Jesse GICHUHI 03:18:18 KEN NEDBANK KENYA
8 Lungile GONGQA 03:18:56 RSA NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB CPT
9 Zachary ORNELAS 03:19:23 USA
10 Nkosinathi DUMA 03:19:35 RSA ARTHUR FORD AC

Female
1 Gerda STEYN 03:31:29 RSA NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB CG
2 Mamorallo TJOKA 03:38:23 LSO NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB LESOTHO
3 Irvette VAN ZYL 03:41:32 RSA NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB CG
4 Dominika STELMACH 03:50:12 POL NEDBANK RC INTERNATIONAL
5 Jenna CHALLENOR 03:51:56 RSA MURRAY & ROBERTS RUNNING CLUB CG
6 Charne BOSMAN 03:52:15 RSA MURRAY & ROBERTS RUNNING CLUB CG
7 Loveness MADZIVA 03:56:37 ZIM MAXED ELITE INTERNATIONAL
8 Priscilla LORCHIMA 03:58:25 FRA NEDBANK KENYA
9 Kathryn VAN METER 03:58:45 RSA MASSMART AC CG
10 Ramadimetja BABILI 03:59:33 RSA MASSMART AC CG

Male
40-49:
1 Mabhutile LEBOPO 03:16:04 LSO NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB LESOTHO
2 Mthandazo QHINA 03:17:33 RSA NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB CPT
3 Lungile GONGQA 03:18:56 RSA NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB CPT

50-59:
3 Mzukisi Klaas 4:06:52 NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB

Female
60-69:
1. Annatjie Botes 4:57:32 NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB SWD

Top Novice:
Male
1 Sintayehu Legese YINESU 03:12:34 – Nedbank Running Club Ethiopia
Female
1 Irvette VAN ZYL 03:41:32 - Nedbank Running Club CGA

Open Team Club
Male
NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB CPT: 13:28:56
1 Mthandazo QHINA 03:17:33
2 Lungile GONGQA 03:18:56
3 Lindikhaya MTHANGAYI 03:21:31
4 Siyabonga SAKWE 03:30

Top Western Province
Male
1 Mthandazo QHINA 03:17:33

21km
Top 10 Overall
Male
1 Elroy GELANT 01:03:20 RSA BOXER SUPERSTORES ATHLETICS CLUB CG
2 Jobo KHATOANE 01:03:31 LSO MAXED ELITE LESOTHO
3 Stephen Lesego MOKOKA 01:03:37 RSA BOXER SUPERSTORES ATHLETICS CLUB GN
4 David MANJA 01:03:40 RSA NEDBANK DEVELOPMENT CLUB CENTRAL NORTH WEST
5 Melikhaya FRANS 01:04:11 RSA IKHAMVA
6 Philani Richard BUTHELEZI 01:04:13 RSA MURRAY & ROBERTS RUNNING CLUB GN
7 Precious MASHELE 01:04:33 RSA OLIFANTSFONTEIN ATHLETIC CLUB
8 Joel MMONE 01:05:08 RSA NEDBANK DEVELOPMENT CLUB CENTRAL NORTH WEST
9 Namakoe NKHASI 01:05:18 LSO NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB LESOTHO
10 Thabang MOSIAKO 01:05:22 RSA BOXER SUPERSTORES ATHLETICS CLUB CG

Female
1 Helalia JOHANNES 01:10:30 NAM
2 Betha CHIKANGA 01:14:29 ZIM MAXED ELITE INTERNATIONAL
3 Fortunate CHIDZIVO 01:15:39 ZIM RETAIL CAPITAL LANGA INT
4 Caroline MHANDU 01:16:41 ZIM MAXED ELITE INTERNATIONAL
5 Rutendo NYAHORA 01:17:51 ZIM NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB ZIMBABWE
6 Lebo Dina PHALULA 01:18:20 RSA BOXER SUPERSTORES ATHLETICS CLUB CG
7 Patience MUROWE 01:19:03 ZIM NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB ZIMBABWE
8 Nobukhosi TSHUMA 01:19:23 ZIM NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB ZIMBABWE
9 Rudo MHONDERWA 01:20:18 ZIM NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB ZIMBABWE
10 Hanlie BOTHA 01:20:20 RSA EASYEQUITIES BORN 2 RUN BOR

Category:
40 to 49 - Male
1 Coolboy NGAMOLE 01:09:39 RSA NEDBANK DEVELOPMENT CLUB CNW

50 to 59 - Female
1 Orbertina KANYONGO 01:31:41 ZIM NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB CPT

60 to 69 - Female
1 Olga HOWARD 01:41:02 RSA NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB CPT

Nedbank Running Club Press Conference

Nedbank Running Club Friday Morning Run

Nedbank Running Club Hospitality Marquee

Nedbank women set to shine in series

This weekend sees the start of the Spar Grand Prix, with action kicking off on Saturday in Port Elizabeth. Now in its 13th year, the series has produced some memorable races and this year’s winner will take home a crisp R185 000, with R65 000 for 2nd and R40 000 for 3rd. For the first time, the Nedbank running club have assembled a green dream team specifically targeting this year’s series and the aim of the team is to produce the winner of each event as the series goes around the Country.

Spearheading the green dream team is the in shape Helalia Johannes. At 38 years old, many would not expect the Namibian star to pose a challenge, but the fact remains that she is currently in the best shape of her life. After winning the Commonwealth Games title last year in the marathon, Johannes followed that up earlier this year with a massive pb when she took victory in Nagoya Women’s marathon in a world class 2:22:25. Recently, Johannes also smashed the course record in the Old Mutual Two Oceans Half Marathon taking victory in an extremely quick 1:10:30 over the undulating course.

Backing her up will be South Africa’s Irvette Van Zyl who is coming off a podium finish at the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon where she finished 3rd in her first attempt at the 56km ultra marathon. No stranger to the Spar Grand Prix series, Van Zyl has won multiple races in the past and will be looking to repeat that this year. Her personal best of 32:06 at last year’s Fnb 10km in Durban bodes her well to be in contention.

Another athlete looking to shine is 15km SA list leader Annie Bothma who for the first time takes on the series. The very fast athlete from the Western Cape will be looking to make amends from failing to finish the Old Mutual Two Oceans Half Marathon last month after slipping on a water sachet during the race and taking a heavy fall. Her 10km pb of 34:39 dating back from 2015 will certainly go this year, especially with a 52:38 15km performance in December last year.

After finishing 2nd and 3rd overall in last year’s series, Nedbank running club Zimbabwe’s Rudo Mhonderwa and Rutendo Nyahora will both be looking to step up a place higher to better their achievements of 2018. Nyahora comes off a new 2:34 marathon pb and will use that strength to her advantage. They will be joined by Patience Murowe who boasts a fast 34:10 over 10km and also finished 7th overall in last year’s Grand Prix standings.

Also in action this weekend will eb the darling of the Port Elizabeth running community, Ntombesintu Mfunzi. The highly accoladed athlete will be stepping down in distance for this one as she prepares for a serous onslaught in the upcoming Comrades Marathon.

Look out for our green dream team athletes dominating the roads of South Africa in this year’s series which promises to provide some exceptional racing.

Submit your Comrades qualifying details by 2 May

Thursday, 2 May 2019 is the final date for submission of qualifying details for this year’s Comrades Marathon. The Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) IT & Entries Team is currently processing the information submitted by more than 19,000 athletes so far.

CMA IT & Entries Coordinator, Kyle Govender has confirmed that 19,300 Comrades runners have submitted their qualifying details, thus ensuring that they have fulfilled the criteria to participate in this year’s race. Govender says, “It is vital that every aspirant #Comrades2019 runner submit all required qualifying details in order for them to meet the requirements to participate in this year’s race.”

Qualifying for the 2019 Comrades Marathon is applicable as of 26 August 2018 till 2 May 2019. The qualifying criteria for this year’s Comrades Marathon will be to complete a standard 42.2km marathon in under 4 hours and 50 minutes, or a 56km ultra-marathon in under 6 hours and 45 minutes.

Telephonic submissions will be taken from 08h00 till 16h30 on Thursday, 2 May 2019 while online submissions close at midnight. For more information, please call Comrades House on 033 897 8650 or email info@comrades.com

The 2019 Comrades Marathon is the 94th edition of the world-famous ultramarathon and the 48th Up Run, starting at the Durban City Hall at 5h30 and finishing 12 hours later at the Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg.

Obituary: Tommy Malone

#GreenNumber62

He claimed his first victory in the 41st Comrades Marathon back in 1966 but it was in 1967 that the world witnessed probably the most dramatic and agonising Comrades Marathon finish when Manie Kuhn beat him to the finish line after he stumbled.

Tommy Malone will long be remembered as a humble and gracious Comrades winner, runner-up, mentor and friend to The Ultimate Human Race. He passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning (25.4.2019) at the age of 81.

Tommy’s Comrades running career spanned 10 years, with him winning his first Comrades Marathon in 1966 and going on to achieve his personal best of 5:54:11 the following year.

With two Gold and 8 Silver medals, and thereby achieving his Green Number 62, Tommy spread the love for Comrades and will be revered as one of the race’s grandest ambassadors. He ran for Germiston Callies Harriers until joining Boksburg Athletic Club in 1976.

Tommy was further honoured in 2002 with the coveted Spirit of Comrades award, along with 1967 Comrades winner, Manie Kuhn. The Comrades Marathon Association also awarded him his Comrades Marathon Winners Jacket retrospectively in 2016.

CMA Chairperson, Cheryl Winn said, “We are saddened by news of Tommy’s passing. He was always positive, kind and easy going with a huge knowledge and passionate love for the Comrades Marathon. He was probably the one and only person to have predicted both Sam Tshabalala's historic win in 1989 as well as Frith van der Merwe's sub-6 hour record-breaking performance.”
Winn adds, “Few people will ever forget the hugely memorable Comrades 1967 moment when Tommy stumbled just before the finish line, and Manie Kuhn claimed that victory. Our thoughts go out to his family, especially his only daughter Amanda, and his many friends. Tommy was a true Comrades ambassador, legend and champion. We will miss him greatly.”
CMA Race Director, Rowyn James said, “He was an incredible ambassador of the race right until the end and I frequently corresponded or chatted with Tommy about race-related matters and will always recall his wise words of wisdom, suggestions and support that he readily shared with me but above all his wicked sense of humour will be missed but remembered”.

Former CMA Chairperson, Peter Proctor said, “Tommy was a true gentleman and an absolute Comrades stalwart. He was one of the CMA’s effervescent greats who gave his all to Comrades. Few people I know have had so many friends in the Comrades world. I remember personally escorting him to the finish line to fire off the cut-off gun in 2016 which was a memorable moment indeed. We will miss him dearly and his absence on Comrades race day will be felt for a long time.”

CMA Museum Curator, Roxanne Thomas said, “This is such sad news. I feel like the Comrades has lost a small piece of its history. He will be missed at the Green Number Club.”