OM DIE DAM MARATHON SATURDAY 11 JUNE 2022

VENUE: Hatebeespoort High School, Corner R511 and R514, Schoemansville

RACE START TIME: 06H30
RACE CUT OFF TIME: 7HRS (13H30)

Nedbank Running Club National will host all their Athletes that entered the legendary Om Die Dam Marathon once again.

Look out for our Gazebos and join us before your marathon to leave your bag for safe keeping and enjoy a warm cup of coffee. We will have drinks and food available once you finish your race and chill to share your experience with everyone.

Good luck everyone and hope to see you there!

Nedbank running Club dominate NMB Half Marathon

Just as they did the previous week in Gqeberha at the Spar Ladies 10km, the Nedbank running club returned to the friendly city as its affectionately known for the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon which incorporated the Sa Half Marathon Championships and once again, the green dream team stole the show.

In perfect racing conditions, the athletes took full advantage and went out hard from the gun. After just over an hour of fear racing, Nedbank running clubs Namakoe Nkhasi dealt the final blow as he surged ahead to take victory in a new Lesotho National record of 1:01:01. Behind him, teammate Daniel Paulus ran the race of his career so far with a brilliant 3rd place finish in a new Namibian National record time of 1:01:10.

Teammate Dejene Hailu Bekele who is still a junior showed immense star quality to finish 6th overall in 1:01:16 and also take the junior title. An elated Nkhasi put his victory down to hard work and consistency. “First of all I want to say thank you to my coach sponge (Michael Seme) and also my team Nedbank running club for giving me this opportunity,” said Nkhasi. “What I can say is that every day I show up at training and I listen to what my coach tells me to do. There are no shortcuts if you want to succeed in running.”

In the Women’s race, a large chasing pack formed early on in pursuit of Ethiopia’s Ftaw Bezabh. Just like last weeks Spar Grand Prix, the Nedbank RC pairing of Helalia Johannes and Tadu Nare were locked head to head. At the end, Johannes crossed the line 2nd with Nare 3rd giving Nedbank a total of 4 out of 6 overall podium places. For Johannes though, it was not just any ordinary 2nd place. Her time of 1:07:49 not only set a new Namibian national record, but also shattered the World record for the 40+ age group.

“After running the world record last week in Spar, it was always the aim to get the half marathon record here today so I am very pleased with my run today,” said Johannes alongside her coach, Robert. “I will do some more spar races but for now the focus is on the Commonwealth Games where I will run in the marathon.” Johannes goes into these games as the defending champion in the marathon.

In the South African championships which was run alongside the event, Nedbank running club athletes dominated, running in their respective provincial colours and obtaining podiums and team prizes in their categories. The star performer of the day though was Irvette Van Zyl who obtained silver with her 2nd place finish in in the championships, running a time of 1:11:19 which was not far off her personal best.

“I gave it my best out there today and I’m happy with my performance,” said Van Zyl. “I started a little slower and then picked up so to be near one of my fastest times makes me happy and the progress is there. Now I will look to the rest of the Spar series and aim to get a-lot faster over the 10km.”

Male top 10 (Nedbank Running Club)
1 Namakoe NKHASI, 1:01:01 Nedbank Running Club Lesotho
3 Daniel PAULUS, 1:01:10 Nedbank Running Club Namibia
6 Dejene Hailu BIKILA, 1:01:16 Nedbank Running Club Ethiopia
10 Refera Merga MADESA, 1:01:31 Nedbank Running Club Ethiopia

Female top 10 (Nedbank Running Club)
2 Helalia JOHANNES, 1:07:49 Nedbank Running Club Namibia
3 Tadu Teshome NARE, 1:07:55 Nedbank Running Club Ethiopia
4 Zinashwork Yenew AMBI, 1:09:16 Nedbank Running Club Ethiopia
5 Selam Fente GEBRE, 1:09:40 Nedbank Running Club Ethiopia
8 Irvette VAN ZYL, 1:11:19 Nedbank RUnning Club AGN
9 Lakech Girma SEBA, 1:13:23 Nedbank Running Club Ethiopia

Provincial Medallists

Males
2 Melikhaya FRANS, 32 EPA [SA champion] 1:01:13
4 Lesiba Precious MASHELE, 31 CGA [Silver medal] 1:01:13
5 Stephen Lesego MOKOKA, 37 AGN [Bronze medal] 1:01:14

Females
7 Glenrose XABA, 27 AGN [SA champion] 1:10:41
8 Irvette VAN ZYL, 34 AGN [Silver medal] 1:11:19
10 Lebo PHALULA, 38 CGA [Bronze medal] 1:14:23

Nedbank running club dominates opening Spar Grand Prix Series

You could have been mistaken and had déjà vu as 2019 Spar Grand Prix Series winner Helalia Johannes returned to face her teammate Tadu Nare who took the series win last year. A ding dong battle ensued in all 6 events and the rivalry continued on Saturday when the two went head to head in the opening leg of the 2022 Spar Grand Prix series in Gqeberha.

At 42 years of age, Johannes was exactly double the age of the younger Nare but they say age is nothing but a number which Johannes certainly proved by not only taking victory, but setting a new World record for the veteran (40+) category when she crossed the line in a scintillating time of 31:53. Nare held on for 2nd in 32:11 with teammate Selam Gebre giving Nedbank RC a clean podium sweep in 3rd. Gebre was only 17 years old and also took the first junior title.

“I’m very happy with my race today after missing last year’s event because of some injuries,” said Johannes in the post-race press conference. “I’m not surprised at all at my time because according to the training I have been doing, it was indicating this type of time.” After winning all 6 events in record times back in 2019, Johannes has a similar aim this year. “I am targeting to win all 6 events again this year although the records may be a bit tough to beat all!”

In accordance to World Athletics rules, the usual ratification process now takes place to ensure that Johannes’s time can count as a world record. “She has been drug tested after the event and we have also sent her Nike racing shoes to World Athletics as per their regulations to check the shoes,” said Nick Bester, National team manager of the Nedbank running club. “The course is also an official recognised and certified route so all the correct boxes are checked.”

Bester is no stranger to World records and their protocols that come with them. This is the 4th world record set in Gqeberha within the last 12 months. Last year, Bester hosted the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km which saw both men’s and Women’s new World records being set. This year the men’s world record was improved on again and now Johannes has the 10km pending.

It was also the first time in the series where a veteran, senior and junior athlete all shared the open category podium. Johannes at 42 stood on top, with 21 year old Nare occupying the 2nd spot and 17 year old Gebre the bronze position.

Quashing of Disqualification of Isaac Mpofu's Durban International Marathon Results

KwaZulu-Natal athletics has been informed that after lengthy engagements between representatives of World Athletics, Athletics South Africa and Athletics Zimbabwe federation on the matter of the disqualification of Isaac Mpofu's results of the Durban International Marathon, it was resolved that the disqualification be limited to the prize money and allow his time to stand

The race winner therefore for the Durban International Marathon, is Isaac Mpofu of the Nedbank Running Club Zimbabwe

Click here for the Durban International Marathon official Results

2022 Comrades Substitution Process

The month of June is all about Comrades Substitutions! With 15800 athletes having secured a spot on the start line of #Comrades2022, these entrants will have the opportunity to withdraw from the race in the first two weeks of June, if they so wish or are unable to participate.

Withdrawing athletes have from 1 – 14 June to log into their Comrades entry profile via the Comrades website www.comrades.com and click on the withdraw button. Their entry will then go into a holding pool; and from 17 June to 30 June 2022, will be available on a first come first serve basis to individuals wanting to enter.

The substitution window will close on 30 June or as soon as the withdrawal cap has been reached.

Entries will be on a like for like basis so South African entrants will only be able to substitute with a withdrawing RSA entry and internationals will only be able to substitute with a withdrawing international entry, etc.

How it works:
Entrants who have successfully entered the 2022 Comrades Marathon will have the opportunity to withdraw from the race during the window period of 1 – 14 June 2022.

Entry slots that have been made available by withdrawing entrants will then be made available on a first come first serve basis to individuals wanting to enter the event via an online substitution entry window period of 17 – 30 June 2022. The substitution entry fee will be the same as per the 2022 entry fee.
No late substitutions will be accepted.

An admin fee of 15% of the entry fee will be deducted by the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) from the withdrawing athlete. The CMA will then refund 85% of the entry fee to the withdrawing athlete who is successfully substituted. There will be no money or voucher exchange between athletes.

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.

Soweto Marathon Entries Are Open

The 2022 edition of the Soweto Marathon will be run on the 6th of November, and entries are officially open! After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, the event will once again bring runners to the streets of Soweto to conquer the People's Race, and we are more than ready to welcome you back!