It was a weekend full of racing and one for the record books with some top performances by the athletes donned in the green stripes of Nedbank running club with their Nike shoes burning up the tarmac!
In Cape Town, the big Absa Run your City Cape Town 10km was held on Sunday with a huge world class field assembled with some of the best East Africans taking on Southern Africa’s best. In a highly contested event, the Nedbank running club duo of Namakoe Nkhasi and Anthony Timoteus ran the race of their lives clocking personal bests of 28:24 and 28:29 for 3rd and 5th place finishes.
“I am so happy to be standing on the podium today and with a new personal best time,” said Nkhasi afterwards. “I ran my own race and came from behind so I’m happy with my sprint finish and now I am aiming for the SA Half Marathon championships.” The man coached by Michael Seme and now based in Pretoria is in the shape of his life and a quick half marathon beckons.
For Timoteus who was the first South African across the line and being a local athlete, his run cemented the dominance that he has been showing which this year includes a 13:36 5000m pb and a national track 5000m championships bronze medal. “This personal best is the result of months and months of hard work,” an elated Timoteus said after the race. “Stay dedicated and have faith in the midst of naysayers.”
In the women’s race, Irvette Van Zyl fresh off her 2nd place showing at the TotalSports Two Oceans Marathon showed she still has the speed, clocking 33:14 for 11th. “I felt like Mrs potato head because I was running only with my head intact towards the end there,” laughed Van Zyl.
In KZN, Jennifer Koech ran away R50 000 richer after taking victory in the Harry Gwala Marathon. The diminutive Kenyan who has based herself in South Africa for several years took victory in 2:58:25.
Comrades Marathon champion Edward Mothibi sent shockwaves to any contenders to the throne, with a fascinating victory in the Fortress Reit Half Marathon finishing in 01:05:39. “Before the race we only came here to do a tempo run so together with my coach Dave Adams, we set out for 67-68 minutes,” said Mothibi. “I ran with the required tempo effort so to do 65:39 was a big confidence booster for us!”
Other weekend Nedbank running club results:
Absa Run Your City Cape Town 10 km
MEN
3. Namakoe NKHASI (Nedbank RC) 28:24
5. Anthony TIMOTEUS (Nedbank RC) 28:29
23. Andre AFRIKA (Nedbank RC) 30:05
Veterans:
1. Lindikhaya Mthangayi (Nedbank RC) 31:35
3. Ricardo Blauw (Nedbank RC) 33:13
Masters:
2. Andrew Cooper (Nedbank RC) 37:28
G’masters:
2. Friedl van der Merwe (Nedbank RC) 40:13
WOMEN
11. Irvette VAN ZYL (Nedbank RC) 33:14
22. Stella MARAIS (Nedbank RC) 36:49
Veterans:
1. Christiane Adriaanse (Nedbank RC) 38:19
2. Rolandi Schutte (Nedbank RC) 40:05
3.Sharon Sunderland (Nedbank RC) 42:43
Masters:
2. Obertina Kanyongo (Nedbank RC) 41:24
G’masters:
3. Olga Howard (Nedbank RC) 53:44
Harry Gwala District Marathon, Half Marathon & 10 km
Marathon
MEN
5. Charles Soza (Nedbank RC) 2:20:24
40-49:
1. Joel Monyele (Nedbank RC) 2:32:08
50-59:
2. Richard Dlamini (Nedbank RC) 2:54:49
WOMEN
1. Jennifer Koech (Nedbank RC) 2:58:25 (Also 1st vet)
5. Beryl Makokha (Nedbank RC) 3:15:39
Peace in Africa Half Marathon & 10 km
Half marathon
MEN
1. Ncediseni Phungula (Nedbank RC) 1:08:57
10 km
WOMEN
1. Asta Ganasen (Nedbank RC) 39:10
Bruintjieshoogte 50 km, 25 km & 15 km
50 km
MEN
1. Tawanda CHIKOTI (Nedbank RC) 3:19:28
6. Christopher MABENGEZA (Nedbank RC) 3:48:17 (Also 1st master)
9. Mzukisi KLAAS (Nedbank RC) 4:05:13
25 km
MEN
1. Packson BANDA (Nedbank RC) 1:23:21
WOMEN
1. Davera MAGSON (Nedbank RC) 1:54:12
15 km
MEN
1. Sibahle MAQWARA (Nedbank RC) 49:57