Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon

(Gqeberha – Saturday, 28 June)
This prominent coastal race, serving as the ASA Half Marathon Championships, provided a stage for impressive performances:

Men:

• Daniel Paulus secured 2nd place overall with a time of 1:01:51.

“Running at the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Half Marathon was an incredible experience. The course was tough, but the energy from the crowd and the support throughout made a huge difference. Finishing in second place means a lot to me it's a sign that my training is paying off, and it motivates me to keep pushing harder. I'm proud of the performance and grateful for the opportunity to represent myself and my team Nedbank on such a big stage.”

• Simon Paulus followed in 6th with 1:02:52.

Men’s Age Categories:
Masters:

• Xolile Ndingane claimed 3rd in the Masters category in 1:21:07.

Women:

• Lavinia Haitope dominated with a winning time of 1:14:12.

“Running the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Half Marathon was an unforgettable experience. I gave it everything I had out there, and to come away with a gold medal feels incredibly rewarding. This victory means more than just a win—it’s a symbol of hard work, resilience, and honoring the spirit of Nelson Mandela. Competing in a race that carries his name is truly special, and I’m proud to have represented my team Nedbank and my country, Namibia, on such a meaningful stage."

• Refeloe Solomons was 6th overall in 1:21:47.

Women’s Age Categories:
Veterans:

• Refeloe Solomons topped the Veterans division with 1:21:47.
• Ntombesintu Mfunzi placed 4th in Veterans with 1:27:29.

Grandmasters:

• Annatjies Botes earned 2nd in Grandmasters in 1:39:34.

Great-Grandmasters:

• Margie Saunders, in addition to winning her category with 1:37:43, set a new South African record for women aged 70-plus in the half marathon. Her achievement broke the previous national mark and marked a significant milestone in her racing career.
  
  “My goal for the half marathon was to break my SA 70+ 21,1km record of 1:40:11 set in December 2023 (a few months after I turned 70). I was on pace for this from the start but only realised after 19km that I was close to the world 70+ record. I finished in 1:37:43, a mere 5 seconds off of the world record of 1:37:38 (set in 2014). I am now really motivated to train and run under this time. I am extremely grateful to Nedbank and Nike (and our other sponsors) for their ongoing support and motivation.”

Social Runners Club Half Marathon

(Durban – Saturday, 28 June)
 Women’s Half Marathon

• Bridget Theunissen claimed 1st place with 1:20:52.

Palm Tyres 10?km

(George – Saturday, 28 June)

Men:

• Selwyn Matthews won in 30:37.
• Francois Maqussa placed 2nd in 32:09.

Men’s Age Categories:

Grandmasters:

• Johan Grobbelaar topped the G’masters in 41:49.

Men’s Juniors:

• Luciano Squire was 2nd in Juniors with 33:54.

Women:

• Carla Spangenberg led the field in 40:12.
• Kezia Matthysen finished 3rd overall and 1st in Junior Women with 42:15.

Women’s Age Categories:

Masters:

• Sanette de Waal won the Masters in 50:23.

Women’s 80+:

• Geraldine Loftie-Eaton took top honours in this category with 1:31:31.

A.R.T. Youth Challenge – 10?km

(Junior athletes)

• Leney Maree claimed 1st place among youth women with 40:21.

Conclusion

The weekend’s achievements highlight Nedbank Running Club’s impressive range—from elite-level podiums in Gqeberha to category victories in junior and age-group races.