Report on Nedbank GREEN DREAM TEAM athletes, Juan Van Deventer and Rene Kalmer in the World Indoor Athletic Championships.

Our star Nedbank distance runners had mixed fortunes at the World Indoor Championships in
Doha. Juan van Deventer reached the final of the 1500 m, but did not got it tactically on the ball, and finished sixth in 3:43.77. He clocked 3:40.07 in his heat. Peter van der Westhuizen could not qualify for the final.

In the women's 3000 René Kalmer set another national record, 9:01.41, in her heat, but in the final ran almost 3 sec slower (after leading for a while) to finish ninth.

Nedbank GREEN DREAM TEAM women's athletes are leading the way on the South African running scene.

List leaders in the South African road running scene for the 2010 season.

NEDBANK Runners in GREEN
Open Woman.

10 km 34:55 Irvette van Blerk Pretoria 06 Mar
15 km 55:31 Zintle Xiniwe Constantia 13 Mar
21.1 km 77:36 Irvette van Blerk Benoni 31 Jan
25 km 1:36:29 René Kalmer Johannesburg 24 Jan
Marathon 2:55:52 Adinda Kruger Sasolburg 06 Feb

Alberton City 15km 14 March 2010
Distance	Men	Time	Women	Time
15km			1. Poppy Mlambo	59min 26sec
			3. Lesley Train	62min 53sec
Medihelp Sunrise Monster 10/32km 13 March 2010
Distance	Men	Time	Women	Time
10 km	1. Lucky Miya	32min 37sec	1. Rutendo Nyahora	37min 55sec
	2. Brighton Chipere	32min 49sec	2. Helen Chiundo	40min 56sec
32km	3. William Chinyanga	1h 58min 27sec	3. Adinda Kruger	2h 24min 51sec
Oasis Crescent Half Marathon & 10 km 14 March 2010
Distance	Men	Time	Women	Time
10km	1. Bernard Phalaltsane	33min 44sec	1. Fikiele Mbuthuma	43min 06sec
			2. Hleziphi Nlayiyana	44min 50sec
Umgeni Water Midmar Marathon, 32 km & 15 km 14 March 2010
Distance	Men	Time	Women	Time
32 km			1. Kerry Koen	2h 11min 30sec
Transnet Rail Engineering 10 km 13 March 2010
Distance	Men	Time	Women	Time
10km	1. George Ntshiliza	29min 59sec	1 Deliwe Nyanga	37min 25sec
Groot Gat Marathon & Half Marathon 27 february 2010
Distance	Men	Time	Women	Time
42km.			2. Berdine Smit	3h 35min 30sec

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RECORD FIELD FOR TOP CAPE EVENT

The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon promises to be a huge event with over 21 000 runners, including both defending champions. Add into this exciting mix over 1 000 international runners and the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon is set to be yet another classic.

The ultra marathon boasts the second biggest field in the race's long history with more than a third of the field attempting this national treasure for the first time. Emphatic proof that ultra running is alive, well and growing in South Africa.

The half marathon is by far the largest in South Africa, and the organisers have been forced to restrict numbers to fewer than 12000 in the interests of runner safety. International interest is at its peak and over 1 000 international runners are taking part.

Race Director Rowyn James is enthusiastic, "Entries for the half marathon closed four weeks before the March 3 deadline. This goes to show that interest in the half marathon is massive.  We are investigating other route options for 2011 and that will allow us to increase the field to take at least 16 000 entrants."

New to this year's proceedings are a number of trail runs taking place on Good Friday 2 April.  Fields are limited to only 800 runners - split evenly between an eight and a longer 18 kilometre event. Already almost 750 entries have been received for the trail runs, and those wanting to secure entry are advised to do so as soon as they can.  According to trail run organiser Trevor Ball this is the biggest single day trail run in the country.

Race registration takes place at the Good Hope Centre from the Wednesday 31 March to Friday 2 April 2010. The Two Oceans Expo is the largest running-related expo in the Western Cape and attracts over 45 000 visitors over the three days.  It also hosts the PUMA Store where visitors can find the latest products and special commemorative event gear.  

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Lucas Nonyana Ready to Win the Old Mutual Om die Dam Ultra Marathon

Nedbank's Lucas Nonyana is in pretty good shape for the Old Mutual Om-Die-Dam Marathon on Saturday. He is the defending champion and won last year's event in 2:55,50. So far he's had a pretty good season and recently won the Ottosdal Night Race Marathon.

Lucas has the pedigree of a champion and in October last year was selected to compete in the International Association of Ultra runners 50km trophy final in Gibraltar. Nonyana won the men's race in a time of 2:58,03, He showed the class of a true thoroughbred distance athlete when he prevailed in the face of fierce competition from US competitor Michael Wardian.

Lucas' eye is on the Comrades Marathon. Last year he came fifth in a time of 05:39:29, his best performance to date. He is feeling confident for the big race, and so is  Nick Bester. "If all goes well on the day Lucas should be the first South African home at Comrades" said a confident Bester. Good enough for a win? "Anything can happen on the day" replied Bester, himself a Comrades champion.

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Nedbank Running Club enters a record amount of runners in the 2010 Comrades Marathon

South Africa's premier running distance event, the Comrades Marathon is due to announce their final race numbers shortly, but the Nedbank Running Club can confirm that their whopping 791 athletes places them tops for clubs lining up on the 30th of May 2010 in Pietermaritzburg.

To date 381 of these athletes have already completed and entered their qualifying race details with the CMA, with the rest hopeful to do this within the next couple of weeks before the qualification cut-off date of April 26.

"As title sponsors of the running club and as major sponsors of the Comrades Marathon, it is indeed pleasing to see the long-term efforts and positive relationship between the 3 parties, contribute to the prospect of such an exciting 85th running," said Patrick Baransky; Nedbank Group Sponsorship portfolio manger.

It is not without reason that the Comrades Marathon is billed as the Ultimate Human Race, and the cross section of Nedbank Running Club members, both in ability and demographics, is especially rewarding to see. For years the event has served as an aspiration and motivation to not only thousands on the road, but to millions of viewers that get inspired by the TV broadcast.

In last years Comrades Marathon the Nedbank Running Club elite runners took nine of the 20 gold medals on offer via both the woman's and men's categories, and went on to secure most of the major team prizes in the different age categories.

Those top Nedbank runners are yet again busy with intense preparation for this event under the watchful eye of the various accredited Nedbank Running Club coaches and managers.

Says, national manager for the Nedbank Running Club; Nick Bester, "Our wish is that we can produce a South African champion on May the 30th. However, this race is not about top runners alone. Every athlete that tackles the event and especially those that make the finish in Durban must be acknowledged as winners." 

It is this spirit of camaraderie and drive that makes the Comrades Marathon stand out globally.

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All Nedbank Running Club members welcome at Om Die Dam Race.

We want to invite all Nedbank Running Club members to our hospitality tent at the finish of the Om Die Dam race this coming Saturday.

You can also leave your tog bag at the tent to make it more convenient to you.

The Nedbank Running Club in Tshwane will be your hosts and will make sure every tired runner will have something to drink and eat at the tent.

Look out for the Green Nedbank feather banners and the umbrellas as soon as you arrive at the finish line.

You can also leave your tog bag at the tent to make it more convenient to you.

Our best wishes to all of you attempting this major Ultra marathon.

Regards-Nick Bester National Manager of the Nedbank Running Club.

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