Nedbank Green Dream Team athlete, Tshamano Setone runs a personal best in the 3000 meter race in Morocco.

Tshamano Setone, who has been competing in track events all over Europe the past month, has recorded yet another brilliant result.

He clocked a time of 7 minutes and 49 seconds in the 3000 meter Golden Track event in Morocco North Region yesterday, as he finished in 6th place.
This is a new personal best for Setone, who bettered his 7 minutes and 57 seconds recorded on the 2nd June 2010 when he won the 3000 meter in Rhede, Germany.

The great improvement places Setone only eight seconds slower than another Nedbank Green Dream team athlete, Juan Van Deventer’s 7 minutes and 41 seconds ran in Stockholm in 2008.

Setone will be back from Europe to compete in the Phalaborwa Foskor 21km on the 24th July 2010 and he is bound to be a force to be reckoned with, given the speed in his legs and the form he is currently displaying.

Kerry Koen bounces back from disappointing Comrades by smashing the Rhodes Ultra Marathon record.

Kerry Koen , top athlete of the Nedbank Running Club Kwazulu Natal in Durban traveled down to Rhodes on the weekend and won the race in a new record and finished sixth overall (men included)

Report from Kerry in her own words below:

I ran the Rhodes Trail Run on Saturday, in unusually warm conditions.  The start was -5 degrees C, but by mid-day it was comfortable to run in the usual running gear.  There was no snow but in patches ice and frost made footing rather slippery.  The run was tough, not only with regard to dealing with the cold, the altitude, gradient and the lack of any paths of any sort made running slow and technical.  At the 21km mark there is a Queen of the Kloof award, which I won.  I reached that point in 2:28 which broke the old record by about 1 minute.  I managed to keep my lead and by the end of the 52km, I had managed to overtake a few of the tired guys, ending up in sixth place overall, and a finishing time of 5:07 (this also happened to be 20 minutes faster than the previous record).  So a good day racing for me!

Kerry will attempt to win the Giants Castle trail Ultra run as well later this year.

10TH VODACOM RACE SET TO BE BEST EVER
One of the province’s most popular road races, the Vodacom Country Challenge 21.1km and 10 km, celebrates its 10th anniversary on Sunday, 22 August with a few key modifications.

Apart from reaching a major milestone in its history, several changes mark this year’s event that looks set to add to its quality and appeal. These include the coming on board of new host, Nedbank Running Club, and the decision to make the race pre-entry only. Both changes are likely to ensure that this year’s event will be better than ever.

Entries for the race are currently being taken at most leading sports shops in Pretoria and Johannesburg, as well as at several major road races. Faxed and on-line entries are also being accepted. Pre-entries close on Friday, 13 August 2010.

The first 5 000 entrants will receive t-shirts, while medals will be awarded to all finishers. Total prize money of over R30 000 is also on offer, which includes various time-based performance incentives.

A 5 km fun run is also being held with finishers receiving foam peaks, medals and water bottles. Fun run entries will be accepted on race day only.

For further information, contact Mark Struwig on 082-492-4416 or click here to view flyer.

Keep working out those running shoes!

TOTALSPORTS LADIES RACE RETURNS TO THE STREETS OF JOHANNESBURG 

The streets of Johannesburg will be a hub of excitement on Monday, 09 August 2010 when thousands of runners, joggers and walkers gather to celebrate National Women’s Day by taking on the much anticipated Totalsports Ladies Race.

According to Andrew Bell, Race Director, participants can look forward to an exciting event.  “The Totalsports Ladies Race is special as it is held in honour of the important role that women play in today’s society.  The atmosphere experienced on the day is electric with thousands of excited women from all walks of life toeing the line in celebration of this day.  Participants can look forward to a fun, undulating route through the beautifully wooded suburbs,” says Bell.

DATE: Monday, 09 August 2010
VENUE: Roosevelt High School, Emmarentia
TIME:  08h00
DISTANCE: 5km fun walk & 10km run

The first 4 000 entrants will receive an official race T-shirt and medals will be awarded to all finishers.  Walkers, joggers and runners of all ages are invited to take part in both routes.  Moms with prams are welcome, while husbands, friends and family are encouraged to join in the fun and show support en-route. 

Proceeds will go to the Fadimehang Mental Care Centre.  The centre aims to equip learners with basic life skills including literacy and numeracy, and at 18 years and older move them to a sheltered workshop where they learn vocational skills like visual art, pottery, painting, beadwork, silk-screening, crafts, etc.

For more information on the Totalsports Ladies Race, race rules or on-line entries please contact Top Events on (021) 511 - 7130 or visit www.totalsports.co.za or www.topevents.co.za

Nike has truly gone the extra mile in its support of Nedbank Running Club.

Apart from its commitment to the Nedbank Green Dream Team, the world’s leading supplier of athletic shoes and apparel has come out in support of the club’s development wing, the Mzansi Squad. In illustrating its commitment to the nurturing of young talent, Nike has agreed to supply Nedbank Running Club Soweto’s 30-strong junior and youth squad with top-of-the-range running shoes for the year. Nike has also come to the aid of several other promising athletes from the Nedbank Soweto club, thus helping them to fulfil their innate potential.

“We are extremely grateful to Nike for their commitment to the development of the sport and feel privileged to have a company of their stature backing our athletes,” said Mark Struwig, Manager of Nedbank Running Club Soweto. “We believe Nike’s support will play an invaluable role in promoting talent within the team, which we trust will bear fruit to the benefit of a wide range of stakeholders in the years ahead.”

Western Province Athletics
WPA Awards
Western Province Athletics would like to congratulate all athletes, coaches, technical officials and clubs
for their achievements over the past year, we are extremely proud to have you as ambassadors.

Road Running
Road Races of the Month
January: Poppy 15km – Hewat AC
February: Top Form 10km – Top Form AC
March: Glenryck 30km – Tygerberg AC
April: Rola Motors 21km – Strand AC
May: Milkwood 21km – Harfield Harriers
June: Mamre 15km – Mamre AC
August: John Korasie 30km – Defence WP
September: Pick ‘n Pay 21km – Brackenfell AC
October: Cape Gate 10km – Nedbank AC