Nedbank Continues to Break Barriers at the 50 km ultramarathon

What was set to maintain running in South Africa and unite athletes through running in support of mental health, saw the men’s 50km world record absolutely obliterated by South African athlete Stephen Mokoka at the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50 km Ultramarathon in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

Once again, the 10 km loop on Marine drive proved to be a fast stretch of road as Mokoka in the colours of Boxer running club crossed the finish line at 02:40:13 to become a world record title holder in what was his ultramarathon debut. Once pacemaker and local Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality athlete, Melikhaya Frans stepped off the road at 35km with his job done, it was a 2:56km that followed by Mokoka that tore the field apart.

“Following the success of the first ultramarathon in 2021 and after months of planning, I put my neck out on the line to say that we would break a record for the second time, and that’s exactly what we did today,” says race Director and Nedbank Running Club National Manager, Nick Bester. “We took the learnings from last year and ticked every box to make sure that all procedures and rules have been adhered to in order for our race to meet World Athletics standards.”

The women’s world record which was set by Nedbank Running Club’s Irvette Van Zyl at the first Breaking Barriers race in 2021 was the target this year but a fast start saw the record slipping away in the last 5km after both van Zyl and Kenyan Shelmith Muriuki dropped back in the final stages allowing Nedbank running club teammate Amelework Bosho to take victory, just outside the world record. Her time of 3:04:58 just missed Van Zyl’s 3:04:24 world record clocking. With Muriuki in second and Van Zyl closing the podium in third, the Nedbank Running Club reigned supreme with a 1-2-3 finish female division. 

“Today we witnessed world-class performances from our South African athletes, and we are proud to incentivize them for their achievements. Nedbank remains a proud supporter of running and the success of Breaking Barriers has set a high benchmark of what the Nedbank Runified series stands for and what is to come,” says Nthabiseng Matshekga. 

Behind Mokoka, the Nedbank running club duo of Tete Dijana and Edward Mothibi ran amazing races to finish 2nd and 3rd, all taking their share of one of the largest ultramarathon purses in South Africa. With five Nedbank running club athletes on the podium in the men’s and women’s races, Nedbank donated R10 000 to SADAG. 

“We believe that sport has the unique power to foster unity, inclusion and stimulate nation building and it was so powerful to see participants wear their green ribbon and run-in solidarity to raise awareness mental health awareness. We are looking forward to working with SADAG to further allows us to build a support structure while raising awareness in our communities,” adds Matshekga.

Gqeberha is known as the friendly city, and this was the case today with the weather gods also coming to the party. “We are proud to have this event in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality where we are the forefront of hosting world class events,” said NMC Cllr Bassie Kamana. “Next year I would also personally like to be running so I’m letting the athletes know now they must watch for me on the podium!” 

As Breaking Barriers ends on a high-note, Nedbank Running Club swiftly moves into its third year, Nedbank Runified is encouraging more runners to join the movement to better mental health under its new meaning, ‘runify’.

Between April and October Nedbank will host group runs across South Africa, and we encourage everyone to get involved. Sign up to the Nedbank Running Club on Strava for more information.

Nedbank Running Club is more than a club and welcomes runners of all fitness levels to unify through running. Let us runify in our support for mental well-being, and take our first steps towards a happier, healthier South Africa.

*While World Record Performances are accepted at face value, the WA World Records are submitted to the rigorous ratification process that includes certified course measurement, official timing, doping control and additional checks and standards. While times are still provisional, the success of today continues to put South African running on the map.  

Full results: https://results.finishtime.co.za/results.aspx?CId=35&RId=3549 

For race day interviews, videos and images click here.

BREAKING BARRIERS – A word from THIRSTI

It was a 1am start as we set up our first water point in the beautiful town of Gqeberha. Team THIRSTI knew that every entered athlete had the World Record in mind, and it was a privilege knowing that some of the world’s most extraordinary competitors relied on our quality natural spring water to refresh, replenish and rehydrate in their quest for glory.

We admired the incredible team effort as support teams and communities came together. Nick Bester and his Nedbank Running Team are absolute professionals who went above and beyond in order to ensure that each athlete was afforded the best possible platform on which to break the records in place.

Brand Activation Specialist from THIRSTI, Mark MacKenzie said that the greatest take away for him was the sportsmanship:

“It was a site I’ll never forget: Supreme athletes in fierce competition for a World Record – and yet they handed each other the ice cold THIRSTI’s on offer when passing our water points. Absolute respect for one another and a moment in which we should be proud of the running community.”

Nedbank running club painting the tracks green!

Week after week around the country, the green colours of the Nedbank running club dominate road running podiums, with victories in many of the big city marathons and ultras. Now however, it’s the youngsters and members of the increasingly performing Nedbank running club development squads that are painting athletics tracks green with dominating performances!

With Track & Field season now in full swing, many provinces around the country hosted their provincial championships as they head towards the national championships but the SA Schools championships were also hosted, with some brilliant performances by Nedbank running club Soweto Development team athletes.

In the boys u19 1500m, Dylan Pienaar ran a fantastic race to capture the SA schools title dominating his event with a quick 3:54 clocking. Teammate Reatlegile Mosweu won 2 Gold medals in 1500m (4:14.71) 5000m (15:24.64) in his category. Joining Mosewu on the podium was Bashimane Gavhi who picked up a silver in both the 1500m and 5000m. Nedbank running club Klerksdorp development athlete Dino Nako who trains under the watchful eyes of legends Matthews Temane and Pio Mpolokeng who head up the development structure, had a great race to take silver in the boys u17 3000m. Paballo Radebe from the Nedbank running club AVT Development set up took a bronze medal in the boys u17 event, capping off a spectacular schools championships for our athletes.

The Gauteng North Championships are always a spectacular scene and this year’s championships continued the theme. After a standout year last year, Nedbank running club hurdle sensation Marione Fourie continues to get better and better. After a sub 13.00 wind aided clocking earlier in the year, Fourie stole the show to take victory in a fast 13.10 for the 100m hurdles. “I am so happy to defend my title again but I really didn’t feel too comfortable in the race,” said Fourie. “I lacked a little bit of technique and my rhythm but we work on it in every training session and my goal for the national championships will be to run a sub 13 legal time.”

There were also victories for Nedbank running club athletes Danie Cornelissen and Rivaldo Roberts. Cornelissen was unchallenged in the 3000m steeplechase clocking a time of 9:41 over the barriers. Roberts, like teammate Fourie sprinted to victory in the men’s 100m high hurdles, clocking a quick 13.78.

In Gqeberha, the home of the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km and 50km world records, Nedbank running club’s Daniel McDonald had a great showing at the EPA Champs. McDonald picked up two medals with a gold in the u20 1500m and silver in the u20 3000m steeplechase.

TTOM 2022 entries are still OPEN 

#TTOM2022 are still open! Contact info@twooceansmarathon.org.za if you miss the entry cut-off of 5pm, 20 March, and we will do our best to assist you with a last-minute entry. Also use this email address for help with uploading your qualifier or any other race-related issues; or call the Race Office on 087 133 2285.

Want to enter our Inaugural Trail Run Series, Ocean2Ocean? You'll be able to do so at Expo when collecting your Race Pack. Online entries will also be open in due course.

More than half of #Comrades2022 entry cap claimed in day one

More than half of the 15,000-entry cap for the 2022 Comrades Marathon has been claimed in the first day of the entry process.

Entries for the 95th Comrades Marathon to be held in August opened yesterday (Wednesday, 23.2.2022) to great fanfare, with runners clamouring to get their entry in and securing their place on the start line of the world’s biggest, oldest and most famous ultramarathon after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19.

Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) Race Director, Rowyn James said, “The start of this year’s entry process was truly one for the books. With a new IT service provider appointed and a new online entry system which our staff and runners had to familiarise themselves with, we had a busy but amazing day of opening the entry process and getting athletes entered for the 2022 Comrades Marathon.”

James added, “The bulk of our athletes found it to be an easy seamless entry process with 4368 entries successfully received within the first hour of opening the entry.”

This is the first entry window period where only those entrants who had successfully entered the 2020 Comrades Marathon are allowed to enter the 2022 race and runs until 31 March 2022.

The entry fee for South African athletes has been discounted from R1200 to R1000 in the first entry window period, as per the CMA’s commitment when the 2020 race was cancelled. Rest of Africa and International entrants in the 2020 Comrades Marathon had their entries deferred to either the 2022 or 2023 race; and do not pay an entry fee.

During the second entry window period, from 20 April to 16 May 2022, all other athletes will be allowed to enter.

Entry fees for those who did not enter the 2020 Comrades Marathon are as follows:
•    South Africa                                     : R1200.00
•    Rest of Africa                                   : R2000.00
•    International                                   : R4500.00

Entry is free to all runners who have completed the Comrades Marathon 25 times or more.

This second entry window period will not apply should the entry cap of 15,000 entries have been reached during the first entry window period.

•    ASA rules only allow for online entries and will be done via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com
•    No hand delivered or postal entries are acceptable.

The 95th Comrades Marathon will be the 47th Down Run on Sunday, 28 August 2022, starting at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 05h30 and ending 12 hours later at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, covering a 90,2km distance.

Vaccination requirement eased for #Comrades2022

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has announced that in line with changes to the regulations of the management of the coronavirus pandemic in the country, it is revising its stance on the participation of unvaccinated athletes in the 2022 Comrades Marathon.

This announcement comes in the wake of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation last night, announcing some key changes to the restrictions which government had put in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

CMA Chairperson, Mqondisi Ngcobo has advised that the Association will allow unvaccinated runners to run the 2022 Comrades on condition that they provide proof of a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of Comrades race day, at their own cost.

The same rules will apply to all runners, volunteers and visitors to the three-day Comrades Expo, scheduled for race week (25-27 August 2022).

Ngcobo has advised that the CMA will continue to comply with government regulations, applicable at all times, in order to safeguard the health and safety of runners, supporters, officials and the public at large. Should government regulations or Athletics South Africa guidelines change prior to race day, the CMA will likewise apply the regulations applicable at that time.

President Ramaphosa also signaled an imminent end to the national state of disaster. Part of the revised regulations means that runners will not be required to wear face masks when outdoors as well as adjusted social distancing directives.

Comrades international athletes are required to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours, when entering the country, while all unvaccinated visitors to South Africa would be offered a vaccination on arrival if they so wish.

The 95th Comrades Marathon will be a Down Run on Sunday, 28 August 2022. The race starts at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 05h30 and ends 12 hours later at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, covering a 90,2km distance. This will be the 47th Down Run in Comrades history.

#Comrades2022 #TheReturn #Sishayibuya

Nedbank Running Club and THIRSTI : An extraordinary partnership

Nedbank Running Club renews their official water partnership with natural spring water brand THIRSTI.

Now in its second year, the partnership with the extraordinary THIRSTI will once again ensure that the treasured Nedbank Running Club athlete’s remain hydrated with Mother Nature’s best natural spring water.
Sourced deep within the ground from two exceptional sources, one in the Klein Drakenberg mountains of northern KwaZulu Natal, and the other in the Tulbagh basin of the Cape Winelands, each drop has filtered through underground rock leaving a pure alkaline and health promoting water free of synthetic toxins. It is this inherent goodness in every drop that most appealed to Nedbank Running Club founder Nick Bester who confirms he hasn’t consumed tap water in excess of 10 years;

“On average an athlete consumes roughly 500ml per hour of running, plus 3 litres pre and post a marathon or more. Even when not running, I consume 4-5 litres of water per day: Remember that quality water helps to not only build and restore oneself but rids the body of toxins too. It’s therefore crucial to ensure your body receives goodness in every drop, which is why we count ourselves extremely fortunate to have water that has passed through natural aquifers and is thus exceptional in quality which in turn will enhance our performances: With the backing of THIRSTI, there’s no reason why we can’t continue our podium finishes throughout 2022.”

The clubs official water partner commented that remaining top of mind and being the ultimate in hydration is key for the brand founded in Normandien, KwaZulu Natal.

“Quality hydration is such a crucial aspect of high performance sport,” comments THIRSTI Head of Marketing Michelle Lillico. “Already the hydration partner to the Comrades Marathon, it is fitting and an honour to align ourselves with the top calibre and professionalism of SA’s premier running club.”

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