With this weekends Cape Town Marathon taking place as the first big event back on the South African road running calendar, all roads lead to Cape Town and the Nedbank running club will not only have a strong team in action on Sunday but are also giving the public an opportunity to meet and great some of the team’s top athletes the day before the event.
On Saturday morning the team will be hosting a small shake out run which is open to all athletes and give them the opportunity to not only run alongside their favourite Nedbank running club athlete but get the opportunity to grab a selfie or two in the process. The shakeout run will start at the lighthouse at the end of Beach Road in Sea Point at 07:30 sharp and all Covid protocols will strictly be in place. Runners must ensure they have masks.
“It’s very exciting that not only is there a big race to look forward to but also for fans of our athletes to get the opportunity to meet their favourite runners,” says Nick Bester, National team manager of the Nedbank running club. “The last time we hosted this type of shakeout run was back in 2019 when we did one for both the Two Oceans and Comrades Marathon’s.”
Some of the top athletes that will be in attendance are defending Comrades Marathon champions Edward Mothibi and Gerda Steyn. Mothibi is the defending Cape Town Marathon champion as well after his victory in the event last year, whilst Steyn is having a very successful year, having broken the long-standing SA Marathon record earlier in the year and finishing 15th in her debut Olympic Games Marathon.
“I cannot wait for the marathon said Steyn. “Cape Town Marathon will actually be the first time I am racing the marathon distance in the Country, and I am excited to get out there and run well.”
With the late withdrawal of Nedbank running club Ethiopia’s Ketema Negassa who earlier in May broke the 50km World record at the Nedbank Breaking Barriers 50km, 3 of his fellow teammates will be in attendance. Sinke Dessie Biyadgilgn boasts a marathon pb of 2:32:17 from the warm and humid Hong Kong Marathon back in 2019 and joining her in the ladies’ race will be Aynalem Teferi who boasts a 2:28:18 marathon best from the Barcelona Marathon. Gebru Redahgne may only have a 2:22 marathon pb which in the men’s race will be considered slow but taking into account this time was achieved this year at the high altitude Abebe Bikila marathon in Ethiopia, he will be one to watch. All 3 Nedbank RC Ethiopian athletes will be at the shake out run.
Former Two Oceans winner Lebenya Nkoka leads a strong Nedbank RC Lesotho contingent for this weekend and will also be in attendance alongside a host of Nedbank RC Lesotho athletes. In attendance and leading the charge from Zimbabwe will be Nedbank RC Zimbabweans Isaac Mpofu, Misheck Sithole and Ngonidzashe Ncube with Ncube coming off a great 2:12:25 marathon best earlier this year in Sienna, Italy. Patience Murowe who has had a great Spar Grand Prix series will also be making her marathon debut.
Likewise, will be South African Stella Marais who runs for Nedbank RC Gauteng North. With multiple pb’s in the Spar Grand Prix series and top 10 finishes in all 6 events, Marais comes into her debut marathon in good form.
The Cape Town Marathon trail race will also be heavily contested by the Nedbank Running Club with Olympian and Om Die Dam winner Juan Van Deventer, Collin Kanyimo -African X one day experience trail winner ,Lloyds Bosman -African x 3 day trail run podium athlete and seasonal trail star -Eric Ngubane going for top honours.
Nedbank running club looks forward to seeing you all on Saturday morning and wish safe travels to everyone travelling to Cape Town this weekend for the race.
For a full list of the Nedbank RC team in action this weekend, view our athletes’ profiles under the elite tab of our website at www.nedbankrunningclub.co.za