It’s been a week of superb racing all round by athletes of the Nedbank Running Club (NRC). There were podium positions at races countrywide, with some podiums being completely taken over by the Green Dream Team.
The PWC George Claassen race in Pretoria was one such race dominated by athletes from the NRC. Shortly after winning the Dis-Chem Half Marathon in Bedfordview Irvette van Zyl won the 10km event at the PWC race. She blitzed to a 34:42 finish, and that at 4 months pregnant. The men’s half marathon race was won by teammates Sibusiso Nzima (65:49) and Zimbabwean Rutendo Nyahora (81:50). Comrades champion Charné Bosman finished 2nd lady overall and first Veteran in a time of 82:11.
Another mention goes to Obertina Kanyongo who finished 2nd female overall and 1st Master lady (65:36) at the Beachomber 15km in Cape Town. This comes barely a week after she finished first Master (2:19:33) at the tough NutriBullet Bay to Bay 30km in Camps Bay. Her teammate Fortunate Chidzivo won the women’s race in a time of 2:00:10 while Vuyiseka Knumenge won the women’s 15km event in a time of 61:21.
Veteran Mthandazo Qhina performed at three races, crossing the line first (50:15) at the midweek Dan Luyt 15 km in Durbanville. Qhina had also run the challenging Bay to Bay 30 km the previous Sunday, finishing 2nd overall and 1st Veteran in a time of 1:41:42, and this past weekend he competed in the Beachcomber 15 km (52:10), finishing 1st Veteran. His teammate Nomvuyisi Seti flew the women’s flag high at the Dan Luyt 15km, when she ran to victory and retained her title in a time of 63:41.
Internationally SA’s Gerda Steyn flew the Nedbank and South African flags high with a stunning performance at a 10km race in Abu Dhabi. Steyn blitzed to a 10km PB to the cross the finish line in a time of 35:36, and that on a course that was roughly 400m too long!
Last but certainly not least came some stunning performances from NRC athletes – including some development runners – at the past weekend’s SA Cross-Country Trials. Thabang Mosiako won the Senior Men’s 10km race in a fast time of 29:49 while development runner Kutlwisiso Sidinile blitzed to a 25:19 7th place in the Junior Men’s 8km event.
GARBIE SPRINGS STRIDERS 32 KM & 15 KM, ?SPRINGS, 21 JANUARY
15 km
WOMEN
Open
1. Andronika Mokgotla (NRC) 61:08
PWC GEORGE CLAASSEN HALF MARATHON & 10 KM?, PRETORIA, 20 JANUARY
Half marathon
MEN
Open
1. Sibusiso Nzima (NRC) 65:49
2. Moses Kurgat (NRC/KEN) 65:53
Veterans
1. Reuben Setumu (NRC) 78:07
WOMEN
Open
1. Rutendo Nyahora (NRC/ZIM) 81:50
2. Charné Bosman (NRC) 82:11 (1st vet)
Veterans
1. Charné Bosman (NRC) 82:11
10 km
MEN?
Great Grandmasters
1. Pele Tshikundamalema (NRC) 49:20
WOMEN
Open
1. Irvette van Zyl (NRC) 34:42
Veterans
3. Colette Brighton (NRC) 50:45
Masters
3. Winnie de Winnaar (NRC) 47:26
GALAXY BINGO TWO VIEWS 10 KM, PORT ELIZABETH, 20 JANUARY
MEN
Open
4. Brendon Effenaar (NRC) 33:42 ??
Veterans
2. Michael ?Prince (NRC) 42:33
3. Bennett ?Napoleon (NRC) 45:02
Grandmasters?
3. Eddie Eades (NRC) 50:05 ?
Great Grandmasters
1. Tamsanqa Jusayi (NRC) 47:17 ? ?
3. David O’Reilly (NRC) 59:51 ?
WOMEN
Open
1. Ntombesintu Mfunzi (NRC) 37:35 ??
Veterans
2. Toegeda Vyver (NRC) 53:10 ??
Masters?
3. Buyelwa Kobokana (NRC) 52:02 ?
Great Grandmasters
1. Ronelle Steyn (NRC) 1:05 ?
BEACHCOMBER 15 KM, STRANDFONTEIN, CAPE TOWN, 20 JANUARY
MEN
Veterans
1. Mthandazo Qhina (NRC) 52:10
3. Vakalisa Kopolo (NRC) 54:41
WOMEN
Open
1. Nomvuyisi Seti (NRC) 64:49
2. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 65:36 (1st Master)
Veterans
1. Ursula Frans (NRC) 68:37
2. Busisiwe Matiwane (NRC) 70:16
Masters
1. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 65:36
DAN LUYT 15 KM, DURBANVILLE, 17 JANUARY
MEN
Open
1. Mthandazo Qhina (NRC) 50:15 (1st Vet)
Veterans
1. Mthandazo Qhina (NRC) 50:15
2. Vakalisa Koplolo (NRC) 55:32
3. Christo van Rooyen (NRC) 62:31
WOMEN
Open
1. Nomvuyisi Seti (NRC) 63:41?
Veterans
2. Suzette McIvor (NRC) 70:55
NUTRIBULLET BAY TO BAY 30 KM & 15 KM, CAMPS BAY, 14 JANUARY
30 km
MEN
Open
2. Mthandazo Qhina (NRC) 1:41:42 (1st Vet)
3. Siyabonga Sakwe (NRC) 1:46:40
Veterans
1. Mthandazo Qhina (NRC) 1:41:42
WOMEN
Open
1. Fortunate Chidzivo (NRC/ZIM) 2:00:10?
Veterans
3. Ursula Frans (NRC) 2:19:33
Masters
1. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 2:19:33
15 km
MEN
Veterans
1. Vakalisa Kopolo (NRC) 52:46
Masters
1. Andrew Cooper (NRC) 57:58
3. Friedl van der Merwe (NRC) 62:48
WOMEN
Open
1. Vuyiseka Nkumenge (NRC) 61:21?
3. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 62:41 (1st Vet)
Veterans
1. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 62:41
3. Busisiwe Matiwane (NRC) 68:43
Masters
2. Olga Howard (NRC) 72:15
Grandmasters
1. Charmaine Cupido (NRC) 81:13
SOUTH AFRICAN CROSS-COUNTRY TRIALS, BLOEMFONTEIN, 20 JANUARY
Senior Men (10km)
1. Thabang Mosiako (NRC) 29:49
5. David Manja (NRC) 30:21
13. Joel Mmone (NRC) 31:12
17. Phillimon Mathiba (NRC) 31:35
Junior Men (8km)
6. Maxime Chaymeton 24:53
7. Kutlwisiso Sidinile 25:19