The rain may have come out on Saturday morning, but that didn’t damper the spirits of runners who got to experience a real race again with the annual Nedbank RC Skosana 10km taking place. 

With the event signaling the first official race back in Pretoria since the Covid19 lockdowns and restrictions were enforced, a field of just under 300 runners set off from the Kgosi Mampuru sports fields.

The new way of hosting races was put into full force with athletes arriving at the event. All entries for the event were done online beforehand and instead of athletes arriving and filling out entry forms, health screening forms were done, and every athlete’s temperature was checked on arrival, to ensure maximum safety at the event. 

The event was graced with the presence of Comrades champion and Nedbank running club green dream team athlete, Edward Mothibi, who was getting back into training after his recent Cape Town Marathon victory. Teammates and Olympians Juan van Deventer and Irvette van Zyl were also in the race, which for both was their first race back since injury. 

In the men’s race, Gladwin Mzazi from Boxer AC was victorious, taking charge with 2km to go to win in a time of 31:38 and pick up R1000 and a Biogen and Future Life hamper. Lucky Mohale was 2nd with Matthews Leeto rounding off the podium in 31:48, both athletes also receiving a cash prize as well as Future Life and Biogen hampers. 

In the women’s race it was a runaway victory for Boxer’s Glenrose Xaba breaking the previous course record to cross the line in 34:48. Twin sisters Lebo and Lebogang Phalula were 2nd and 3rd respectively in 36:11 and 36:29. 

“A big thank you to all our sponsors, Nedbank, Nike, BIOGEN, FUTURELIFE & BAVARIA for assisting to ensure the race happened and all the prizes and products that was sponsored,” said race director Jacqueline Rencontre.

“I would also like to say thank you to Nedbank running club GN Chairman,Jacqueline Rencontre who managed and organized this event with the help of Enoch Skosana.Also a word of thanks to national team manager Nick Bester who really assisted with the planning and prize money sponsorship for the event.”

With the successful running of the event, other clubs can now take learnings from the Nedbank RC Skosana 10km event which has now set the benchmark of races during Covid19.