A year ago after she had finished the same race she was in despair as her foot was quite swollen and sore. Unbeknownst to her she had broken a toe. It was debatable whether she would recover in time to race the Comrades. Luckily she did and the rest is they say history.

Bosman who trains did not really expect to win on Sunday. The Irene Ultra-race was just another good hard training run in which her focus was to emulate to perfection the way she planned to race Comrades.

“I did not taper down at all for the race. I started off with tired legs which were good as the second half of Comrades is usually a battle of mind over body. The temperature soared midway through the race which sapped once energy but again it did not bother me as it can get quite hot during the Comrades. It is important to get used to racing in such heat.”

Bosman won in 3:26:04. She has no plans to race again before Comrades. As last year she will do her final preparation for the “big day” at Graskop.

Siyabonga Dingile (Ned RC) finished second in the men’s race in a time of 2:52:51.

Mnganiseni Emman Mathibela (Ned RC) won the women’s half-marathon running a time 1:29:53.

**Muziwenkosi Elvis Mjaja (Ned RC) finished second (1:11:45) in the Checkout Challenge Half Marathon.

**The Nedbank Running Club athletes dominated during the Allan Ferguson Half Marathon in Johannesburg. Jonas Makhele won the men’s race in 1:11:59.

Mamorallo Tjoka raced to victory in the women’s race in a time of 1:23:41. Joenette McKenzie was third in 1:31:12.

Derocious Makhobalo (Nedbank) won the men’s 10km race 31:47. Ntisindiso Mphakathi was third in 32:33.

**There was also a good showing by the Nedbank Running Club athletes at the Oorie Berg Half-marathon at Kareedouw.

André Ketchem ( Xcel AC) won in 1:14:21. Seven of the Nedbank Running Club athletes finished in the top ten. George Ntshiliza was second in 1:14:57; 3^rd Rodney Prins 1:15:12; 4^th Anele Maliza 1:15:34; 5^th Melikhaya Kepe 1:24:53; 7^th Christopher Mabengeza  1:27:31; 8^th Khayelihle Ncube 1:30:41; 10^th Luvuyo Stephen Nedbank 1:34:10.

Grizelda Pietersen finished second (1:44:26) in the women’s race.

The men’s 10km race was won by Brendon Effenaar in a time of 33:16.

** Mthandazo Qhina won the Leap Frog Gordon’s Bay Labourwise 10km in a time 31:29.  Obertina Kanyongo raced to a second place finish in the women’s 21km race.  Her time was 1:27:07.  

**There seems to be no end to the hunger of the Nedbank Running Club athletes in the Southern Cape to win. The past weekend they dominated the Two Lagoons 32km and 10km races in Wilderness taking nine of the 12 podium finishes in the men’s and women’s elite races.

The men made a clean sweep in the 32km as well as the 10km races. Lloyd Bosman was victorious in the 32km race running a time of 1:49:10.  Lindile Tokota was second in 1:51:00 and John April third in 1:59:11.

Donovan Jantjies outsprinted Francois Maquassa to win the 10km race in 34:54. Maquassa stopped the clock at 35:18 with Godwin Heyns crossing the line in third place. His time was 35:49.

Melissa van Rensburg seems to be addicted to racing from the front. She won the women’s half-marathon in a time of 2:13:48. Annatjie Botes was second in 2:25:13. Annatjie Botes finished second in 2:25:13.

Brittney-Ann Meyer won the women’s 10km race in 47:21.

** Moses Kurgat won the Gert Sibande Marathon in Ermelo running a time of 2:23:32. Collin Parura was third in 2:25:04.

The women’s marathon was won by Tshifhiwa Malobola. She ran 3:06:49. Beryl Makokha finished second in 3:16:21 and Winile Mnisi third in 3:18:19.

** The passing weekend Nedbank Development athletes represented Gauteng Province at the national schools Championships. 6 athletes who were in action did very well. Our aim and events of dominance has been in the middle distance as this is our focus to groom these athletes in to be the future Green Dream Team.

**A definite highlight this weekend was the performance of the Nedbank Soweto Development athletes at the South African Schools Meeting in Durban.

Liza Kellerman won a bronze medal in the 800m running a time of 2:12.00. She was also part of the Southern Gauteng Team that won the 4x400m-relay.

Phelani Maduwa won the under-19 boys 800m in a time of 1:52.00.

Kutlwisiso Sidinile managed to run his fourth sub four minute race in the 1 500 metres racing to a time of 3:52.00. It is a new personal best for him. The next day he also set a new personal best in the 5 000m running 15.01.