Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km elite field best ever: Elite Men`s line up facts

The third running of the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km which returns to the Nelson Mandela Bay on 26 February 2023 has once again attracted a world class elite field, with some surprise entries still expected with entries closing this Sunday, 15 January.

In its first edition, Nedbank running club athletes Keteme Bekele Negasa and Irvette van Zyl both set new 50km world records with South Africa’s Stephen Mokoka setting a new men’s world record in last year’s event. With the calibre of entries received so far, fast times are expected once again.

Race director and former Comrades Marathon winner Nick Bester has been pleased with the calibre of entries received for this year’s event. “It is a really great strong and balanced international field for this year’s race and we have received requests from athletes wanting to run all over the world,” said Bester. “One must also remember that there are still a few days left until entries completely close, and as like last year where Mokoka entered on the last day, I expect some surprise last minute entries to come through.”

Mokoka’s name may not yet be on the current start list, but that may change given that American CJ Alberton ran a faster time than Mokoka’s world record last year and Mokoka may want revenge. It must be noted that Mokoka’s 2:40:13 from last year’s event is still the official world record, with World Athletics still to approve the other mark. Whether Mokoka does decide to run or not, there is still a world class field that have put their entries in so far.

Running in the colours of Nedbank running club are no fewer than 4 previous Comrades Marathon winners in the form of Tete Dijana, Edward Mothibi, Ludwick Mamabolo and Claude Moshiywa. Dijana took victory at Comrades last year with training partner Mothibi taking victory in the last up run. Both ran last year, finishing 2nd and 3rd and it was the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km that was a curtain raiser for the unknown Dijana who would go on to do bigger things.

“I will never forget last year’s race because when I came 2nd it showed that not only do I have a big talent, but all my hard work was paying off and I was looking forward to a bright future,” said Dijana. “We are all currently in the camp now preparing for the race and we have been since November last year so we are looking forward to a great race.”

Teammate and veteran athlete Jonas Makhele may be 41 years old but don’t let that fool you as he finished 2nd in the first edition of the event in a quick 2:42:14. “I am a veteran and I turned 40 only a few months after that race so I would like to aim to beat that time and also set a new world age best,” said Makhele. There is over R1 million up for grabs in prize money which includes prizes for top 10 men and women, world record incentives, world age best incentives and prizes to the top South Africans.

Ethiopian athletes may not be known for their ultra-marathon powerhouse status as they are in standard marathons, but this is slowly changing and there is a big Ethiopian contingent that will arrive in Gqeberha looking for nothing less than a World record. One to surely look out for will be Maxed Elite’s Endale Belachew who destroyed a class field last year in the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon with a devastatingly quick finish after 56km of running in which was his debut at an ultra. Likewise was it a debut back in 2021 for Bekele who ran off with a world record.

He will make the trip from East Africa with a very strong Nedbank running club Ethiopian squad. Daba Debele makes his ultra-marathon debut and will be coming with teammates Gadisa Gutama and Habtamu Mishamo. South African followers of the sport may recall last year’s Soweto Marathon where Gutuma led out far only to be reeled in towards the end by Debele with the duo finishing 1st and 2nd in the marathon.

Zimbabwe’s Ngonidzashe Ncube in the colours of Nedbank running club will be looking to keep the title in the southern region of Africa. Ncube also makes his ultra-marathon debut but has a very strong marathon pedigree and will be one of the fastest marathon runners lining up in the field. Ncube holds a marathon pb of 2:11:46 set last year and is said to be raring to go for the 50km.

The fastest marathon runner in the field thanks to a time of 2:09:24 in last year’s World Championships will be local hometown hero Melikhaya Frans. Fans shouldn’t get too excited though as Frans, just like last year, will have a big and bold PACE across his race number as he sets the pace for the runners over the first 30km at a world record tempo.

The Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km is a World Athletics Elite label recognized event. The stamp given to the best events, and the first ultra-marathon in the world to receive this recognition. Next week we preview a very exciting women’s race which boasts a number of athletes who are capable at taking a shot at a new world record.

Strong women’s field assembled for Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km Ultramarathon

The third running of the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km ultramarathon which returns to the Nelson Mandela Bay on 26 February 2023, has once again attracted a world class elite women’s field, with confirmed entries from around the world.

In its first edition back in 2021, Nedbank running club’s Irvette van Zyl ran a new women’s only 50km world record time of 3:04:24. That time still stands and will be the aim of many once the starter’s pistol is fired which will set the runners off on a fast and flat 10km loop which the athletes will need to navigate 5 times.

Last year van Zyl competed but it was her Nedbank running club Ethiopian teammate Amelework Bosho who reigned supreme taking victory and narrowly missing out on a new world record with her time of 3:04:58. Bosho had been on world record tempo but the heat in the last 5km of the race slowed her pace, prompting race director Nick Bester to bring the start times earlier this year for both the men’s and women’s races.

Bosho will return next month to rectify her narrow miss and wants nothing short of a new world record. “My training has been going well together with some athletes who will also be competing, and I am looking forward to the race,” said Bosho through her manager Belay Hagos. Emane Hayile and Tinebeb Ali will accompany Bosho in the colours of Nedbank running club.

World record holder van Zyl will not be competing this year, paving the way for a newcomer to take over the first South African across the line title. Local Gqeberha favourites and Nedbank running club athletes Ntomebesintu Mfunzi and Kelly van Vliet will be looking to step up to the top but will have to watch out for the ever-improving Adele Broodryk from the Murray and Roberts running club after finishing 3rd and first South African in last year’s Comrades Marathon.

In front of Broodryk at Comrades last year was Nedbank’s Dominika Stelmach who finished 2nd and who podiumed at the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km in 2021. The Pole is a very strong and versatile athlete who likes running aggressively up front and will be sure to push the pace. To make sure that the athletes are on pace to run a world record will be the responsibility of Nedbank running club athletes Stella Marais and Helalia Johannes. Marais is a seasoned pacer at the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers event whilst Johannes will look to take the athletes on pace up to around 30km.

A runner that not many South Africans may have heard of but who will definitely be one to watch on race day will be Swedish athlete, Hanna Lindholm, who will be donning the green colours of Nedbank running club and making her debut over an ultra-marathon. Lindholm boasts a quick marathon personal best time of 2:28:59 and is confident heading into her debut. “I am both excited and a little bit nervous at the extra 8km I will have to navigate,” said Lindholm. “If I am healthy and the conditions are good then I believe that a world record is certainly possible.”

Bester is confident that viewers of the event which will be broadcast live on SuperSport are in for an exciting race in both the women’s and men’s races. “Our ladie’s race this year has a good blend of seasoned ultra-runners but then also the unknown factors such as some fast marathon runners who will be making their debuts,” said Bester.

“We have been blessed with perfect weather and conditions in our past two editions of the event and I believe that if conditions are good we are very likely to see not only some new world records, but also some new world age bests being run.”

President of IAU to attend Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km

The third running of the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km ultramarathon takes place on 26 February in Nelson Mandela Bay and gracing its presence will be International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) president, Nadeem Khan.

The presence of Khan at the event signals yet another sign of top-notch race organizing and hospitality which has seen the event receive not only gold label status from the IAU but also elite status from governing body World Athletics. This event was the first ultra-marathon in the world to receive elite status.
 

“I want to thank the organizers of the Nedbank 50km for the invitation to attend this year's edition,” said an excited Khan. “The race has brought some outstanding performances in the previous two editions, and I am looking forward to seeing that momentum carry over to this year's event as well.” Khan looks forward to the South African hospitality as well as the entire race weekend.

“Good races have certain aspects in common - good organization, good strategy and good visionaries laying down the path to the future and the Nedbank Runified 50km has certainly all these aspects in place - and their vision of a fast competitive event where records are broken has become a reality in the first two editions.”
With a fast and flat 10km loop which the athletes will have to navigate 5 times, athletes can’t ask for a faster course that is legal. Norrie Williamson, a World Athletics technical delegate and one of few internationally recognized course measurers in the country, is excited for the return of the event.
“The Nelson Mandela Bay authorities, NB Sport and Eastern Province Athletics have established a reputation for top notch organization and attention to technical detail which, together with a flat and fast course, maximizes the opportunity for yet another lowering of the 50km world, continental and national records,” said Williamson.
The event will also have an added incentive in that an official timing mat will be placed at the 42,195km mark affording athletes to also register Olympic and World Championship qualifying times.

“The majority of the worlds and Africa’s best athletes reside at altitude but have very few opportunities to race coastal marathons on the African continent which puts them at a major disadvantage,” said Williamson. “Having a certified marathon mark on this course is an opportunity for those who may not
yet have the performance to be invited to either Europe or the Middle East to run a career changing time without the time zone challenge or travel fatigue.”
Ultra-running is a sport that is growing in popularity, attracting faster marathon runners but also in mass participation. “I envision the event growing not only in the caliber of athletes but also perhaps, an increase in mass participation in the event itself,” says Khan. “The 50km is definitely on the upswing and when we first initiated the idea of an IAU 50km World Championships it was meant to be a springboard for the marathon runners to step into the ultra-world and this is very evident in the 50km events we see globally today.”

The 50km world record has seen a big drop over the last 2 years. “The entrance of top marathon runners has brought faster times to this distance and made a mark in lowering that world record and the Nedbank 50km have done a tremendous job in that regard - inviting top runners to a very well-organized event,” said Khan.
The Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km is a by invitation only elite event, attracting world class runners from around the World. With over R1 million up for grabs in prize money and incentives, fans of the sport can also watch the action live with the event being televised by SuperSport.

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