SPOTLIGHT: NELSON MANDELA MARATHON, CAPE TOWN

The inaugural Nelson Mandela Marathon, organised by Golazo in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and built around Madiba's values of dignity, courage, justice, equality, solidarity and freedom, took place in Cape Town on Sunday, 18 October. It was a memorable first edition for the Nedbank Running Club Green Dream Team, whose strong elite squad produced podium finishes, category wins and a host of top-20 results across the marathon, half marathon and 10km.

Marathon

In the men's marathon, Moses Tarakinyu (Nedbank Running Club Zimbabwe) was the first Green Dream Team athlete home, taking 3rd place in 2:15:34, just 20 seconds behind the winner. Simon Sibeko (Nedbank Running Club Central North West) was right behind him in 4th in 2:15:59. Sithembiso Mqhele (Nedbank Running Club KZN) followed in 9th in 2:19:47, with Benjamin Nyongesa (Nedbank Running Club Kenya) 10th in 2:20:16 and Puseletso Mofokeng (Nedbank Running Club Central North West) 13th in 2:20:57. Lloyd Bosman (Nedbank Running Club SWD) was 15th in 2:21:34, Piet Wiersma (Nedbank Running Club International) 16th in 2:21:45 and Namakoe Nkhasi (Nedbank Running Club Lesotho) 17th in 2:22:34. Selwyn Matthews (Nedbank Running Club SWD) took 19th in 2:23:36, and Pule Sibeko (Nedbank Running Club KZN) was 20th in 2:24:02.

The women's marathon was won by Bize Beyira Negasa (Nedbank Running Club Ethiopia) in 2:36:42. Fortunate Chidzivo (Nedbank Running Club Zimbabwe) took 3rd in 2:49:55 and her club-mate Ethel Pangiso was 5th in 2:53:24. Ilse Marais (Nedbank Running Club Central Gauteng) finished 6th overall in 2:55:27 and also won the 40-49 category. Ashleigh Sandes Neil was 16th in 3:17:16, Elretha Burger, a new recruit to the ladies team, was 19th in 3:22:36, and Mahri Mally was 20th in 3:23:23, all three for Nedbank Running Club WP.

In total, 10 Nedbank Running Club men and 7 Nedbank Running Club women finished in the top 20 of the Nelson Mandela Marathon, 17 Green Dream Team athletes in all.

Half Marathon

Stephen Ngigi Kangethe (Nedbank Running Club Kenya) won the 21km in 1:03:58, and Weynalem Haftu Gebre (Nedbank Running Club Ethiopia) took the women's race in 1:13:41, which also made her the winning Junior woman. Jenna Cackett (Nedbank Running Club WP) was 5th woman in 1:25:28. In the age categories, Vakalisa Kopolo (Nedbank Running Club WP) was 3rd in the men's 40-49 in 1:14:48, and Anneline Roffey (Nedbank Running Club WP) was 3rd in the women's 40-49 in 1:34:02.

Stephen Ngigi Kangethe's coach, Audrey Chebet Louis, called his win her biggest achievement and thanked Nedbank Running Club National Manager Nick Bester for the support and advice he gave her in managing and coaching athletes.

10km

Thabo Solani (Nedbank Running Club WP) was 2nd overall in 33:26 and won the Junior men's category, with club-mate Riaan Wildschutt 3rd overall in 33:51 and the winner of the 40-49 category. Tanya Posthumus-Fox (Nedbank Running Club WP) was 3rd woman in 43:40 and 2nd in the women's 40-49. Roger Simpson (Nedbank Running Club WP) won the men's 60-69 category in 42:33, Robbie Gomes (Nedbank Running Club Mpumalanga) was 3rd in the men's 50-59 in 51:36, and Charmaine Cupido (Nedbank Running Club WP) won the women's 70-79 category in 59:19.

Thank You

A special thank you goes to Nick Bester, his wife Sharon Bester, Adriaan Cronje and Jacqueline Rencontre for all the work behind the scenes, from the planning and logistics to putting together such a strong Elite Team. Thank you also to Nedbank Running Club WPA for hosting the club gazebo. We look forward to growing even stronger at this event next year.

FEATURE: GEORGE KUSCHE'S AMSTERDAM MARATHON PB

Comrades champion George Kusche has added a big road marathon personal best to his name. At the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, in wet conditions, he ran 2:10:08 to finish 26th overall.

George went out boldly, reaching halfway in 1:04:22, which was also a half marathon personal best. The second half took him 1:05:46, as the pace eased to about 3:10 per kilometre after 30km, but he picked it up again over the closing stretch and finished just outside the 2:10 barrier.

As an ultra-distance champion, George was likely the fastest ultrarunner in the field, and the original report suggests that a time between 2:08 and 2:09 is a realistic target for him in future, with the world 50km record holder CJ Albertson cited as an example of how speed over shorter distances can support marathon progress.

Our sincere thanks to Frank Dietzel of HDsports, our representative in Europe, for the original report, which was shared with us by Nick Bester. Congratulations, George, on a superb run.

Read the original article (use translate for the English version): https://www.hdsports.de/marathon/george-kusche-laeuft-marathon-bestzeit-in-amsterdam

NRC SOUTHERN CAPE (SWD)

Fancourt Marathon, George

Nedbank Running Club SWD athletes were on the podium at the Fancourt Marathon in George. Carla Spangenberg won the women's race and Cindy Viljoen finished 3rd, while Austin Koopman took the win in the 21.1km.

NRC GAUTENG NORTH

Pilditch

Kirabo Mirembe finished 3rd in the girls' 200m, and Marie Snyman-Jacobs won the 600m Masters women's race.

NRC FREE STATE

Harrismith Mini Mountain Race 10km

Hlongwane Bongani took the win at the Harrismith Mini Mountain Race over 10km.

NRC LIMPOPO

Tshilamba Half Marathon

Tabitha Tsatsa had a strong run at the Tshilamba Half Marathon, finishing 2nd overall and winning the Masters category in 1:42:01.

NRC EASTERN PROVINCE (EPA)

Crusaders 21.1km, Gqeberha

Nedbank Running Club Eastern Province had a strong day at the Crusaders half marathon. Kelly van Vliet won the women's race in 1:27:20, and Andile Motwani was 2nd man overall in 1:11:01. In the age categories, Andre Ketchem was 2nd in the M40-49 in 1:19:20, Christine Claasen won the W60-69 in 1:43:03, Davera Magson was 2nd in the W50-59 in 1:48:34, and Don Charles was 2nd in the M70-79 in 1:58:59.

Crusaders 10km

Thulani Mdlalo won the M40-49 category in 35:25, with Sandile Ngunuza 3rd in 38:54. Bulumko Malinga won the Junior men's category in 36:11, Elroy Matthews was 3rd in the M50-59 in 47:38, and Ntombesintu Mfunzi was 2nd in the W40-49 in 51:21.

ASA 10KM CHAMPIONSHIPS, POTCHEFSTROOM

Nedbank Running Club athletes from several branches took on the national 10km championships in Potchefstroom. In the senior women's race, Karin-Mari Dotze (AVT) was 7th in 37:58 and Kimara Solms (WPA) was 10th in 38:40. Este van Tonder (Free State) was the 40+ champion and finished 11th overall, and Tebogo Mokgosinyane was 3rd in the Vet category in 39:39. Taryn Snyman (Gauteng North) was 10th in the 40-49 age group, Ingrid Koster (Gauteng North) was 3rd in the 50-59 age group and Dalene Sonnekus (Gauteng North) won the 60-69 age group. In the Junior category, Skye Barker (Gauteng North) was 5th.

HOLLYWOOD BETS JOHANNESBURG 10KM

Thabang Mosiako won the men's race in 30:43 at the Hollywood Bets 10km in Johannesburg. Dikeledi Majara was 5th woman in 35:52 and Mapaseka Makhanya 8th in 37:52, and Kai Hattingh won the Junior women's category.

AVANI FIT MARATHON, MASERU, LESOTHO

Nedbank Running Club athletes made their mark at the Avani Fit Marathon in Maseru. Tsepo Mathibelle won the men's marathon, while Mathabo Mathibelle was 2nd and Rethabile Kanono 4th in the women's marathon. In the half marathon, Reitumetse Thethana Mathibelle won the women's race, and Mabothile Lebopo and Boithatelo Kanono were 4th and 6th in the men's race. Lineo Dimpane was 3rd in the women's 10km.

IMBUBE MARATHON, ESWATINI

Rosina Kiboino successfully defended her women's 42km title at the 2026 Imbube Marathon, repeating last year's win in the Nedbank Running Club vest and taking home the E40,000 first-place prize.

COMING UP: ELANDS MARATHON, MPUMALANGA

The Elands Marathon takes place on 27 February 2027 and is a Two Oceans and Comrades qualifier, making it a key date for athletes chasing a qualifying time. The 42.2km starts at 05:30 at Laerskool Oosterlijn (eMgwenya/Waterval Boven), the 21.1km starts at 06:00 at the Malaga Hotel, and the 10km starts at 05:30 at Ngodwana SSTC, with all races finishing at Ngodwana, Mpumalanga. Entry fees are R360 for the marathon, R210 for the 21.1km and R150 for the 10km, excluding the compulsory R90 bus fare, and entries close on 10 February 2027 or once the cap has been reached. For more information, visit www.elandsmarathon.co.za or email entries@elandsmarathon.co.za.

And That's a Wrap

It was a landmark weekend for Nedbank Running Club, with a podium and a winner at the first ever Nelson Mandela Marathon, a personal best from a Comrades champion in Amsterdam, and results from the Cape, George, Gqeberha, Johannesburg, Potchefstroom, Harrismith, Limpopo, Maseru and Eswatini. Well done to every athlete who raced, to the coaches and supporters behind them, and to everyone who sent in their results.

We will be back next week with all the results from the weekend of 24 and 25 October.

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

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