It was a long weekend to remember for Nedbank running club Cape Town’s Anthony Timoteus who not only recorded his first ever top 10 finish in a national championship on the road but was rewarded with a new 10km pb in the process.
Timoteus was taking part in the Absa Durban City 10km which incorporated the South African National championships. After picking up a bronze medal 8 weeks back in the South African Cross-Country championships over 4km, Timoteus ran a well-judged race not going with the first bunch in the beginning of the race.
“The main pack started very fast from the go so I decided to stick with the 2nd bunch which also included Stephen Mokoka who was telling us to relax because we were running a 28 tempo,” said Timoteus.
The move paid off for the strong athlete who came through the field on the 2nd lap to finish 7th in a world class time of 28:46. “My main goal coming into the race was to run a personal best after having a few issues in the 2 weeks prior to the event.” This is the 3rd time Timoteus has dipped under 29:00 for the distance.
“I’m very happy with my progress in my career and now my focus turns to the next training block where I want to run a very good track season at the start of the year.” With both the Commonwealth Games and World Championships taking place next year, Timoteus has the potential to make either team over the 5000 or 10 000m distances.
Veteran athlete Peter Muthubi has shown a new spring in his step this year. The 13-time Comrades Marathon finisher has run the quickest times of his life this year, focussing on short speed and staying away from the ultras. He took the South African title in the veterans category running an unbelievable 30:08.
In the ladies’ race, Nedbank running club’s Irvette Van Zyl continued her fine return to form after an injury setback. Van Zyl controlled much of the pace in the first 4km of the event, dropping back just before halfway. She finished 5th in 33:49 and the 4th South African across the line, narrowly missing out on an individual championship medal.
“It was a tough day at the office for me as my legs felt really heavy and flat, but I just kept telling myself to hang in there,” said Van Zyl. “I am just really grateful to be running pain free again after my injury. It took a lot of mental toughness and prep for me to get back to where I am now, and it was so great to be all together again running on the roads.”
Charlene Archer and Chrizell Roberts also ran personal best times of 37:06 and 37:25 respectively
The event marked yet another major competition back on the books after the devastation caused by Covid19 which either saw events postponed or completely cancelled.