SPOTLIGHT: SPAR WOMEN'S CHALLENGE 10KM, JOHANNESBURG

There's no better stage for a team of Nedbank Running Club women than the SPAR Women's Challenge 10km, and on Sunday morning in Johannesburg the club made its mark from the front of the race all the way through the age categories. Out of 5,673 finishers, Nedbank Running Club's ladies collected 3 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals.

Up front, Selam Gebre led the club home in 3rd place overall in 33:50, with Dirbe Dagne 10th in 35:50 and Dikeledi Majara 12th in 35:54, all three inside the overall top 20. Este van Tonder won the 40-49 age category in 38:52, with Tebogo Mokgosinyane taking bronze in 40:43. Dalene Sonnekus claimed silver in the 60-69 category in 46:53, and Frances van Blerk won gold in the 70+ category in 57:41, finishing more than 12 minutes clear of the field. In the Junior category, Dirbe Dagne's 35:50 earned gold, with Megan Waller taking bronze in 39:18.

National Manager Nick Bester was full of praise for the squad: "Thank you to all the Nedbank Running Club ladies at the SPAR Women's Jozi 10km today. You not only filled up the podium in all the age category positions on offer, as well as in the Elite division, but turned up in numbers to celebrate and compete in one of the major women's races on the South African running calendar. Great teamwork, and well done to SPAR and Bruce Davidson and his team for making this a major!"

NRC WESTERN PROVINCE (WPA)

Blouberg Marathon 42km

Runners faced extreme wind and challenging conditions on the day, but Maretha Smit won the women's marathon in 2:54:08, finishing 18th overall. Sarah Silber was 5th woman home in 3:13:09.

Blouberg Marathon 21km: Western Province Championships

The 21km on Sunday, 4 October doubled as the Western Province Championships, and Anel Terblanche was crowned Western Province champion in the Open women's race in 1:19:09. Nedbank Running Club WPA's Olga Layton took bronze in the Open race in 1:23:44, finishing third woman overall, and also won the W40-49 Western Province title. Charmaine Cupido claimed silver in the W70-79 category in 2:09:11.

Blouberg Marathon 10km

Rolandi Schutte was 2nd woman overall in 41:27 and also won the W40-49 category. Vakalisa Kopolo was 3rd man overall in 34:03 and won the M40-49 category, and Ronan Macey took the win in the Junior Men's race.

SWD Masters Track & Field Championships, George

Jacques Mouton was 2nd in the M55 category over both distances, clocking 59.69 over 400m and 2:21 over 800m.

Chamberlain Capital Classic, Gauteng

Nicole van Wyk (Schoonbee) flew the WPA flag in Gauteng, winning the women's race at the Chamberlain Capital Classic 21.1km in 1:28:59.

NRC GAUTENG NORTH (AGN)

Chamberlain Capital Classic

Over 21.1km, Nicole van Wyk (Schoonbee) (Nedbank Running Club WPA) won the women's race in 1:28:59. In the men's race, Sekgwane Moloele (Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North) was 2nd in the M50-59 category in 1:28:42, Resemate Hlongwane (Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North) won M70-79 in 2:08:04 with Ian Fuller (Nedbank Running Club Central Gauteng) 3rd in the same category, and Jan Naborn (Bloemfontein Nedbank Achilles) won the M80+ category in 2:49:54.

Over 10km, Ash Naidoo (Nedbank Running Club KZN) was 3rd in the W50-59 category in 1:04:29, and Lelanie Cornelius (Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North) was 3rd in W60-69 in 54:37.

Midvaal MadMac 22km

Albert Kangor was 2nd overall in 1:16:02 and won the M40-49 category.

Solomon Mahlangu Half Marathon, Kwaggafontein

Oupa Mziza was 3rd in the M50-59 category in the 10km race.

Masters Track & Field, Pilditch Stadium

Over 3000m, Ingrid Koster won the 50 age group and Marie Snyman-Jacobs was 2nd in the same age group, and Lelanie Cornelius won the 60 age group.

NRC EASTERN PROVINCE (EPA)

BayRun, Gqeberha

Over the Discovery Bay Run 21.1km, Andile Motwani won the Open category and the race overall in 1:08:07. Lubabalo Jusayi won M35-39 in 1:22:21, Anele Maliza was 2nd in M40-49 in 1:20:21 and Don Charles won M70-79 in 1:56:00. In the women's race, Pat Thomson was 2nd in W60-69 in 1:55:50.

Over the BayRun NMB 10km, Sibongile Mgqeba won W35-39 in 53:30. In the men's race, Vuyisile Simayile was 3rd in M35-39 in 47:55, Thulani Mdlalo won M40-49 in 34:11, Melikhaya Kepe won M50-59 in 39:47, Christopher Mabengeza won M60-69 in 43:57 with Sithembile Mpako 3rd in 52:44, and Mbulelo Sobikwa was 3rd in M70-79 in 1:16:16. Bulumko Malinga was 3rd in the Junior category in 36:50.

NRC BORDER

Komani Half Marathon, Queenstown

Over 21.1km, Refeloe Solomons won the W40-49 category in 1:28:50, finishing 15th overall, and Karen Bassett won W50-59 in 1:47:44. In the men's race, Wandile Kulati won M50-59 in 1:30:55 and John Dupreez took the M60+ title in 1:35:30. Over 10km, Mcoseleli Luyaba was 2nd in M40-49 in 37:52 and Lesly Kuseba won M50-59 in 40:30, and Catherine Van Aardt (Nedbank By Grace Running Club) was 2nd in the Junior category in 44:56.

NRC LIMPOPO

Shikhumba Half Marathon

Tabitha Tsatsa finished 2nd overall and 1st Master in 1:36.

NRC KZN

Gaterite Challenge 21km

Fikile Mbuthuma finished 2nd overall and won the age category in 1:32:05.

Prof Otty Nxumalo Marathon 42km

Musawenkosi Nsibande took 2nd place in 3:20:43.

South Coast Marathon

Msawenkosi Mthalane finished 2nd overall in the 42.2km in 2:36:18. Over 21km, Nonhle Dlamini finished in 1:32:59 and was among the prizewinners.

Oliver Reginald Tambo Commemorative Marathon 42km

Siyamthanda Bazana finished 2nd overall in 2:30:00 and won his category.

NRC FREE STATE

Mangaung Race

Over 21.1km, Maryna Swanepoel won the women's race and the W40-49 category, and Moleboheng Bogosi won the Junior women's category. Over 10km, Dineo Dithakono was 2nd woman overall and won the Junior category, with Moleboheng Mohapi 3rd woman overall. In the men's 10km, Omphile Letshabo won the race and Thabang Mathosa was 3rd.

Sterkspruit Plaza 21km

Anele Gabuza of Nedbank By Grace Running Club was 3rd in the M20-34 category in 1:14:14.

NRC SOUTHERN CAPE (SWD)

SWD Masters Track & Field Championships, George

The ASWD Talent ID and SWD Masters Track & Field Championships took place at the Rosemoor Athletics Track in George on 2 and 3 October. In the M65+ category, Johann Coetzer won gold in the long jump with 4.30m and silver in the 100m in 14.87s.

Klein Karoo Oudtshoorn 10km

Francois Maquassa won the road race in 33:57.

NRC NORTH WEST

Royal Bafokeng 10km

Amely Chauke finished 4th in the women's race in 41:26.

NRC LESOTHO

Minet Independence Marathon

Rethabile Kanono was 3rd woman in the full marathon in 3:55:47, and Malefane Ramosebetsi was 3rd man in the half marathon in 1:10:22.

Sterkspruit Plaza 21km

Reitumetse Thethana won the women's race in 1:28:39. In the men's race, Moeketsi Mosuhli was 4th overall and won M40-49 in 1:11:21, and Tsepo Mathibelle was 6th overall and 2nd in M35-39 in 1:13:30.

NRC INTERNATIONAL

Cologne Marathon, Germany

Thabang Mosiako made his return from injury with a season-best 2:11:59, finishing 8th.

OUR LITTLEST MASCOT

Every club needs a mascot, and Nedbank Running Club has found a very cute one. Michelle Preston (Spies) took on the MadMac Marathon over the weekend, her first marathon since welcoming her baby girl, to help her best friend chase a personal best, which her friend got. For Michelle it was a relaxed, easy-paced run to see how it felt to cover the distance again after so long. She says she felt great and was itching to pick up the pace, but she is still on her way back to full fitness. Her little princess, already kitted out in her own Nedbank Running Club vest, takes up a lot of Michelle's time these days, and with a smile like that she has more than earned the title of our newest Nedbank Running Club mascot.

And That's a Wrap

From the SPAR Women's Challenge in Johannesburg to the Blouberg seafront and podiums across the country, Nedbank Running Club once again showed what a green weekend looks like.

We will be back next week with all the results from the weekend of 10 and 11 October.

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

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