The country’s top road runners hit the road in Port Elizabeth on Saturday when the South African Nedbank Half-Marathon Championships took place at the NU 2 Stadium at Motherwell.
The country’s top road runners hit the road in Port Elizabeth on Saturday when the South African Nedbank Half-Marathon Championships took place at the NU 2 Stadium at Motherwell.
The event saw all provinces competing against each other, as well as individuals running for their various clubs, as the event was open to anyone.
Runners took advantage of the near perfect running conditions and the very flat route to record some great times over 21km, with many runners, including some of the top finishers, recording personal best times for the distance on what organisers are saying is arguably the fastest 21km route in the country.
Grahamstown’s only Eastern Province team member, Terri-Lynn Penney, selected as part of the EP senior women’s team, finshed in 1 hour 28 minutes 50 seconds, setting her fastest time over the distance, as the sixth Eastern Province women home. Penney, who runs for Run/Walk For Life Athletics Club, was very happy with her performance, adding that she had battled with a cold leading up to the event.
Other locals performing well on the day were Melikhaya Jacobs, who was the first local home in 1:12:37. Jacobs, running for Port Elizabeth-based Nedbank Running Club, finished 126th overall. Top local veteran (age 40-49) runner, Basie Bonaparte showed he can still run with the youngsters, finishing 129th overall in 1:12:52. Bonaparte was the 18th veteran overall and the 4th EP veteran.
The pace ranged from up front to extra fast, with the front bunch recording 2 minutes 50 seconds per kilometre at times. A large group of about 40 runners stayed together for the first few kilometres, driven primarily by the experienced Hendrick Ramala, as they sped through the 10km mark at 29:30. By the halfway stage EP’s Lusapho April tested the competition by pulling a group of ten free from the field.
Stephen Mokoka, Athletics Gauteng North, defended his title by recording 1:01:27. “It was very tough out there. The guys are very fit. I never expected so many to be with us at 15km” said the 24-year-old.
Lindikhaya Mthangayi of Western Province finished 2nd in 1:01:32, with Wirimai Juwawo (no club) 3rd in 1:01:38. Ramaala finished 5th. Ramaala’s 61:43 is one of his fastest 21km of recent years and only just slower than his 61:30 half way time in this year’s London Marathon.
In the women’s race, the talented trio of Annerien van Schalkwyk, Rene Kalmer and Zimbabwean Tabitha Tsatsa ran the first 17km together with Van Schalkwyk initiating the drive for home on the final three kilometre descent to the finish. Van Schalkwyk carved an impressive four minutes eleven seconds from her personal best, saying “I was troubled with my knee from around half way.Her friend Rene Kalmer said, " It was a great run by Annerien.”
There were 810 finishers.
Grahamstown finishers at the SA Nedbank Half Marathon Championships
126. Melikhaya Jacobs (Nedbank Running Club) 1.12.37
129. Basie Bonaparte (Nedbank) 1:12:52
164. Carriot Galela (Run/Walk For Life Athletics Club) 1:15:58
167. Mcebisi Molose (Run/Walk For Life) 1:16:00
251. Thembinkosi Mdyogolo (Nedbank) 1:21:49
346. Terri-Lynn Penney (Run/Walk For Life) 1:28:50
420. Lungisile Mangqingwana (Nedbank) 1:34:00
487. Welcome Jela (Run/Walk For Life) 1:40:50
488. Eric Mapara (Rhodes University Athletics Club) 1:40:57
