Grocott’s Mail newspaper salesman and avid runner, Mzwabantu Nesi finished the recent Washie 100 Miler, taking fifth position overall.
Grocott’s Mail newspaper salesman and avid runner, Mzwabantu Nesi finished the recent Washie 100 Miler, taking fifth position overall.
While it is a dream of Nesi’s to run the Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon, he decided earlier this year to attempt the Washie. Nesi is a member of the Grahamstown based Run/Walk For Life Athletics Club.
The gruelling event starts in Port Alfred, with athletes running a loop through the town before heading off to East London, to make the 160km trip.
The race started on Friday 22 July, will athletes having until 7pm the following day to finish. However, Nesi only needed 17:44:17 to finish the race.
Nesi was lying comfortably in third position towards the final third of the race. However, with 18km to go he really battled, walking the final 18km.
This is when he was overtaken, settling for the fifth spot, still an incredible achievement, especially as his longest distance before Washie was a 50km event.
Nesi said it was the negative attitudes from many people who said he would not be able to finish the race that helped him reach the finish line.
Overall race winner was Mcebisi Yose who finished in 15:54:05. The women’s winner was Megan Davey who finished in 18:25:50.
