News article

Five Nedbank Running Club athletes lined up among over 56,000 runners from 162 nations at the BMW Berlin Marathon on Sunday 27 September, one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Between them they brought home a world best, a top-twenty finish in a personal best time, and three more finishes to be proud of.

Mark and Estee Leathers

Our cover star, Mark Leathers, a valued member of the club and Chairperson of the Comrades Marathon Association, ran 3:35 in Berlin and gave his own verdict on the day:

“Race went generally to plan. With still another two full marathons for 2026 ahead, plan was never to murder myself here, so happy with the 3:35 as a recreational runner over 40. Prep was steady and race fuel, even in Berlin, was none other than Biogen.”

Mark also wears his colours with pride wherever he races, adding: “Even abroad where one has no requirement to run in club colours, I always race in my Nedbank Nike Green (#bloodisgreen).”

His wife, Estee Leathers, had a Berlin to remember too, crossing the line in 5:26:27, a full 25 minutes faster than her marathon in Barcelona in March.

Margie Saunders: A New World Best

The headline of the day belonged to Margie Saunders, who ran 3:26:13 to set a new World Best marathon time for a woman in the 70-74 age group. Saunders took up running in her mid-30s and has previously set age-group world bests over 15km, 21km and 30km, but a marathon world best on the streets of Berlin is something else entirely.

The club’s message to her said it all: “We are extremely proud of you, Margie! This is definitely a performance that means more than just a world best!” Margie shared her own account of the day:

“What a privilege and experience to run the Berlin Marathon – my first international marathon in nearly 40 years of running. Four months of solid marathon training paid off and I have no post-race stiffness. It was a huge learning curve in terms of having to negotiate (and weave past) thousands of runners in a 60,000 field. I am satisfied with my 3:26:13 finish (over 5 minutes under my SA age group record) despite being 2 minutes off my target time – the extra 390 metres accounted for that. I made a rookie error and dropped a gel, which meant I ran out of ‘fuel’ for the last 5 or 6km, but there is always something one learns whilst racing. I remain very grateful for Nedbank’s ongoing support and motivation, and a highlight of my run was passing a fellow Nedbank runner at around 30km.”

Mark Leathers saw the run from close quarters, saying she “flew past me on the road” and calling it “a superb run from Margie.”

Moses Tarakinyu

Representing Zimbabwe in Nedbank green, Moses Tarakinyu produced the fastest run of the club’s five, finishing 17th overall in a personal best of 2:08:26. It was a tight race at the sharp end: Tarakinyu finished just one second behind 16th place and five seconds behind 15th, and only 5:36 behind the winner. His Zimbabwe clubmates were quick to celebrate, noting that anyone who watched the race could see how close it was.

Johann Jacobs

Johann Jacobs of Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North completed the five with a personal best of 4:21. His Gauteng North clubmates were quick to share a piece of Comrades trivia too: in 2016, Johann was the last runner home at the Comrades Marathon, finishing in exactly 12 hours.

Five athletes, five very different races, and one very proud club.

Nedbank Running Club athletes took on a world-class field in the heat and hills of Joburg on Heritage Day and placed three men and two women in the top ten.

Stephen Ngigi Kangethe of Nedbank Running Club International was third in 28:52, followed by George Kusche of Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North in fifth in 29:00 and Onalenna Khonkhobi of Nedbank Running Club Central North West in sixth in 29:10. Lucky Mohale of Nedbank Running Club CG was third in the 40–49 age group in 31:52, and Elias Mabane of Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North was third in the 50–59 age group in 36:36.

In the women’s race, Dirbe Techanie Dagne of Nedbank Running Club Ethiopia was eighth in 34:55 and Mary Njambi of Nedbank Running Club International was tenth in 36:37. Lily Jeruto of Nedbank Running Club International won the 40–49 age group in 37:26, with Tebogo Mokgosinyane of Nedbank Running Club CG second in 40:21. Ezna Flattery of Nedbank Running Club CG was second in the 60–69 age group in 49:42, and Megan Waller of Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North won the junior women’s category in 39:23.

The Gqeberha leg of the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge was run at Pollock Beach on Sunday, and Nedbank Running Club athletes finished with two in the top ten and four age-group medals. Selam Gebre was third overall in 32:33 and Dikeledi Majara was ninth in 33:53. Este van Tonder was second in the 40–49 age group in 37:02, with Liza Kingston fifth in 39:46. Nerida Lubbe was second in the 50–59 age group in 40:48, with Liezel van Zyl fifth in 49:35. Dalene Sonnekus was second in the 60–69 age group in 44:24, with Christine Claasen fourth in 47:00, and Frances van Blerk won the 70–79 age group in 56:13. In the under-20 category, Kezia Matthysen was fourth in 43:04 and Kylie Dorfling was fifth in 44:45.

Nantes Heritage Day 10km

The club celebrated Heritage Day in style at the Nantes Heritage Day 10km, taking home nine podium finishes along with both the men’s and ladies’ team prizes.

Dewayne Mouries won the Open men’s race and Riaan Wildschut was third, with Wildschut also winning the 40–49 age group. Roger Simpson won the 60–69 age group and Patrick Dlangamandla took second in the 70–79 age group. In the women’s race, Nicole van Wyk won the Open title and Tanya Posthumus-Fox finished third, with Posthumus-Fox also winning the 40–49 age group and Charmaine Cupido placing second in the 70+ age group.

The men’s team prize went to Dewayne Mouries, Riaan Wildschut, Sikhanyiso Majeke and Roger Simpson, while the ladies’ team prize went to Nicole van Wyk, Tanya Posthumus-Fox, Lee-Anne Pienaar and Charmaine Cupido.

Tussen Doorns Heritage Run

Two athletes reached the podium at the Tussen Doorns Heritage Run. Over 10km, Jamaine Swartz was second in the Open men’s race and second in the junior category, and over 5km Lehlohonolo Raliphokojoe won the men’s race.

Goodwood Harriers 10km

Two days after winning the Nantes 10km, Dewayne Mouries was second in the Open men’s race at the Goodwood Harriers 10km in 30:53, while Roger Simpson won the 60–69 age group in 39:11. Anel Terblanche won the Open women’s race.

Voet of the Wine

Jani Calitz made a memorable start in the green, taking second in the Open women’s category and first in the 40–49 age group in her first race for the club. Elmé Middlemost won both the Open and the Veteran categories in the women’s 21.1km. Over 10km, Siyabonga Centane was second in the Open men’s race and Adam Clark was second in the Masters men’s category.

Paarlberg

Two age-group podiums came at the Paarlberg races. Danie van Coller was third in the 50+ category over 21km, and Charmaine Cupido won the 70+ category over 10km, just two days after placing second in her age group at Nantes.

WPA Masters Track and Field: Leo Benning 3

The club collected nine gold medals at Bluedowns Athletics Stadium. Jacques Mouton won the Masters men 55+ 400m in 1:00.50 and the 800m in 2:23.02. In the Masters men 60+, Alwyn Christians won the 100m in 14.05 and the long jump with 4.90m, while Shaun Simpson won four throws events with 41.74m in the discus, 10.67m in the weight throw, 11.79m in the shot put and 31.98m in the javelin. In the Masters women 45+, Rolandi Schutte won the 5000m in 19:51.11.

Hoka Half Pretoria

Liesel-Mari Fritz was second in the 40–49 age group over 21.1km, finishing in 1:39:21 as the eleventh woman overall. Over 10km, James Chapman was the first junior boy in 38:50, placing eighth overall, and Scott Fisher was third man home in 36:44.

Ford 3-in-1

Peter Mutwetumo Muindi won the half marathon in 1:08:14, with Brian Muthomi Kiogora just five seconds behind in second in 1:08:19. Albert Kangor was fourth man home in 1:14:16 and first in the 40–49 age group, and Sekgwane Moloele was first in the 50+ age group in 1:32:20. Mary Njambi Njuguna won the women’s race in 1:24:11, two days after her tenth place in Joburg. Over 10km, Robert Kiprotich Chelang’a was third in the 40–49 age group in 38:46, placing tenth among the men overall.

Heritage Day Run, Vanderbijlpark

Albert Kangor was second man home in the 21.1km on Sunday in 1:13:23, and first in the 40–49 age group.

The Otter

Collin Kanyimo made his Otter debut a winning one, taking the 40–49 age group title in the trail race – not a bad way to tick off a first Otter.

Great Kei

Kelly van Vliet showed great form in the marathon, finishing third woman in 3:07:04 and first in the 35–39 age group. In the 21.1km, Refeloe Solomons was the first woman home in 1:24:57 and also won the 40–49 age group.

Mossel Bay Half Marathon

The club filled the men’s podium in the 21km, with Lloyd Bosman first in 1:13, Bruce Maboza second in 1:14 and Akeen Wilson third in 1:14. In the women’s race, Carla Spangenberg won the Open category in 1:25, with Minki Lotter second in 1:28.

Port St Johns River Mountain Run

Simphiwe Mfowetshiza finished second in the 10km in 33:42.

Thavhani Mall Marathon

Tabitha Tsatsa was first overall and first master in the 21km, finishing in 1:39:16.

Save The Date | Nedbank Running Club WPA 10km Road Race & 5km Fun Run

Get it in the diary now: our Nedbank Running Club WPA 10km Road Race and 5km Fun Run takes place on Saturday, 31 October 2026. Both races start behind the Virgin Active Top Level Parking at Cape Gate Lifestyle Centre, with the 10km off at 6:30am and the 5km Fun Run at 7:15am. Enter online at www.entryninja.com.

Numbers can be collected on Friday, 30 October between 16h00 and 19h00, or on race morning between 05h00 and 06h15, both at Cape Gate Lifestyle Centre. There is R1,500 waiting for each Open winner, category prizes across Junior, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70+, and Open Team Prizes for the men’s and ladies’ teams.

From a marathon world best and a personal best top-twenty finish in Berlin to nine podium finishes and both team prizes at Nantes, a full men’s podium at the Mossel Bay Half Marathon and nine gold medals at the WPA Masters track meeting, it was a weekend that showed the reach and depth of Nedbank Running Club. Congratulations to every athlete who ran, jumped and threw in green.

We will be back next week with another edition packed with Nedbank Running Club results.

#RunWithUs | #GrowWithUs | #GreenDreamTeam | #NedbankRunningClub | #MoreThanAClub

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