It was another weekend of great performances for the Nedbank Running Club, as the "Green Dream Team" made their presence felt at many major road races across South Africa. From the scenic routes of the Garden Route to the fast-paced streets of Gqeberha and the challenging hills of Gauteng, Nedbank athletes delivered a masterclass in consistency and competitive spirit.
At the Infantry School Cango Marathon, the women’s marathon field saw Nedbank athletes feature prominently, led by Carla Spangenberg who claimed victory in 02:54:16. Nerida Lubbe added further quality with a third-place finish in 02:59:18, while Mahri Constant rounded out the team’s marathon results with a solid 10th place in 03:11:23. The same event delivered standout half marathon performances, where the men dominated the front of the race: Ettiene Plaatjies secured the win in 01:07:40, followed closely by Bruce Maboza in second (01:09:14). Kallie Burger continued the strong team showing with sixth place in 01:13:48. On the women’s side, Melissa van Rensburg took the win in 01:25:32, with Hanlie Schamrel (8th, 01:37:16) and Annatjie Botes (9th, 01:37:16) adding valuable top-ten finishes.
In the Western Cape, the Century City Express 10km saw Sarah Silber place sixth in the women’s race with a competitive 00:39:10. Further north at the TRACN4 Elands Marathon, the club’s women delivered a strong marathon double, with Jeannie Henderson finishing sixth in 02:55:40 and Mapaseka Makhanya close behind in seventh in 02:57:30. The half marathon at Elands also showcased Nedbank’s depth in the men’s field, where Jacob Kiplagat claimed third in 01:06:44, Maphuti Globias Majetja followed in fourth (01:07:58), and Ntutuko Masego finished ninth in 01:12:39.
In Gqeberha, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY 10K once again proved to be one of the fastest stages in the country, and Nedbank athletes rose to the occasion. Isaac Ndiema produced an excellent run to take second place in 00:27:58, while Leonard Pkorirm added another top-ten finish with seventh in 00:28:49—an impressive result in a deep, high-quality field.
The Urithi Legacy Race delivered multiple podium moments for the club across both the half marathon and 10km. In the men’s 21.1km, Jacob Kiplagat Koech secured victory in 01:12:50, with Kabelo Melamu making it a Nedbank one-two finish in 01:13:16. Tebogo Mokgosinyane added a podium for the women with third place in 01:39:07. Over 10km, Joel Orioki Omwoyo placed third in 00:31:06, and Silvester Kipkemboi Kipsang finished eighth in 00:32:24. The women’s 10km also brought strong results, with Emely Chauke taking second in 00:41:28 and Ezna Flattery finishing fourth in 00:45:02.
At the Cape Gate Vaal Marathon, athletes were tested by particularly tough conditions, with the race taking place in pouring rain and sections of the route lightly flooded, making every kilometre a measure of resilience as much as fitness. Despite the challenging weather, Nedbank athletes still featured strongly across the distances. Adele Broodryk delivered a standout performance to win the women’s marathon in 03:01:58, while Riaan van Zyl placed seventh in the men’s marathon in 02:39:06. In the half marathon, Divan Saayman (7th, 01:21:14) and Karabo Koenaite (9th, 01:22:29) both finished inside the top ten for the men, and Lauren Kruger continued the strong women’s results with fourth place in 01:28:17. The 10km added another podium, with Rearabetswe Mokoena finishing second in the men’s race in 00:35:59.
The Sunrise Monster 10km produced a one-two finish for the club in the women’s race, with Jacqueline Lotter taking the win in 00:51:40 and Liesel-Mari Fritz (1st Veteran) following in second in 00:52:45. In the men’s race, Adriaan Cronje (1st Veteran) placed sixth in 00:41:44, with James Chapman (3rd Junior) close behind in seventh in 00:42:39. Sekgwane Moloele 3rd Master male and Frances Van Blerk 1st 70+ female
At the BielieMielie Marathon, Thato Calvin Buthelezi secured third place in the men’s marathon in 03:04:33, while the 10km delivered more podium success. Bongani Hlongwane finished second in the men’s race in 00:36:23, and the women’s race was led by Shanice Peens who claimed victory in 00:40:08, with Carle Steenkamp adding fourth place in 00:51:43.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the club’s women’s team also delivered an outstanding collective performance at The Best of the Best Marathon, with Fikile Mbuthuma earning silver in the 42.2km, Nonhle Lo’slenda Dlamini taking bronze in the 21.1km, and Nokuthula Dladla Ntshangase securing bronze in the 10km.
Across every venue and distance, Nedbank Running Club athletes demonstrated consistency, competitiveness, and depth, turning a busy weekend of racing into a statement of intent for the season ahead. The Nedbank Running Club continues to demonstrate its incredible reach and talent, reinforcing its position as a powerhouse in South African athletics across every distance and terrain.