The André van Coller Memorial Run, incorporating the Eastern Province 21km Championships, took place in and around the Eastern Province Command Army Base in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The fast and flat course took runners from the base through the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University before returning to the back of the base for the last half of the run.
The André van Coller Memorial Run, incorporating the Eastern Province 21km Championships, took place in and around the Eastern Province Command Army Base in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The fast and flat course took runners from the base through the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University before returning to the back of the base for the last half of the run.
Frith van der Merwe of Run/Walk For Life Athletics Club proved she is still worthy of a spot among the top women runners in the province when she won the veteran (40 to 49) age category in a time of 1 hour 30 minutes 50 seconds.
Van der Merwe placed sixth overall in the women’s field. Two weeks earlier, van der Merwe won the women’s section of the Bruintjieshoogte 25km in Somerset East.
Van der Merwe received a race gold medal for finishing among the top ten women, and was awarded an Eastern Province gold medal as veteran champion, and a sure spot in the EP side to take part in the upcoming SA 21km championships to be held in Port Elizabeth.
Her club mate, Terri-Lynn Penney ran her personal best time over the 21km event in her attempt to make the EP senior women’s team for the SA champs. Penney finished as the fourth women with a time of 1:28:44.
Thembinkosi Ndyogolo of Nedbank Running Club was the first local home in 1:13:09, also finishing as the second veteran.
Overall race winner was Rodney Prins (Mr Price EP) in 1:04:10 while women’s winner was Ntombesintu Mfunzi (Mr Price) in 1:16:30. Grahamstown results at the EP 21km champs. (655 finishers). 22. Thembinkosi Ndyogolo (Nedbank Running Club) 1:13:09, 69. Welcome Jela (Run/ Walk For Life Athletics Club) 1:24:34. 108, Terri-Lynn Penney (Run/Walk For Life) 1:28:44, 126. Frith van der Merwe (Run/ Walk For Life) 1:30:50, 127. Stephen Penney (Run/Walk For Life) 1:30:51, 143. John Galela (Run/Walk For Life) 1:32:08, 217. Thoko Sipungu (Rhodes University Athletics Club) 1:40:06, 322. Brian Bannatyne (Albany Road runners) 1:51:04, 410. Bronwyn Mothapo (Rhodes) 1:58:12, 449. Nicola Craig (Rhodes) 2:02:11, 452. Kirsten Huysamen (Rhodes) 2:02:17.
