Outstanding performances came from several athletes from the Nedbank Running Club (NRC), but performance of the week has to go to 2016 Comrades champion Charné Bosman, who stormed to victory in a record time at the 2018 Forever Resorts Loskop 50km.
Bosman delivered an absolutely outstanding performance by winning the race in 3:21:50, the fastest time ever by a South African veteran. It places her sixth on the all-time list, with the 13th fastest time. She beat the second lady and defending champion Ann Ashworth by over seven minutes (3:28:25). NRC teammate Jennifer Koech placed 3rd lady overall (3:31).
The men’s race saw Collin Parura storming to a second place podium position (2:54) while Khubulani Zondo placed 3rd Veteran.
In the Eastern Cape the 41st edition of the Bruintjieshoogte 50km saw some excellent performances by NRC athletes. Third place position in the Men Open race belonged to Sandile Ngunuza with Luvuyo Stephen taking first in the Veterans race. George Ntshiliza clinched 2nd podium position in the 25km men’s race while Lesley Koeseba took 3rd in the 10km event.
Another race where the podiums got painted green was the Groot Brakrivier 10km where NRC athletes took 16 podium positions! All three podium positions in the men’s open race belonged to NRC (Lloyd Bosman, Godwin Heyns, Donovan Jantjies) while several age groupers clinched podium positions in their respective categories.
Back in Cape Town another six podium positions belonged to NRC athletes at the Central Athletics 10km Challenge. NRC athletes took 1st and 3rd positions in both the men’s and women’s races. Vakalisa Kopolo was crowned the men’s winner with teammate Bulelwa Simae the women’s winner.
RESULTS
CENTRAL ATHLETICS 10 KM CHALLENGE, CAPE TOWN, 22 APRIL
MEN
Veterans
1. Vakalisa Kopolo (NRC) 32:42
3. Mthandazo Qhina (NRC) 34:10
WOMEN
Open
1. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 38:21 (1st vet)
3. Obertina Kanyongo (ZIM/Ned) 42:01 (1st Master)
Veterans
1. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 38:21
2. Busisiwe Matiwane (NRC) 43:05
Masters
1. Obertina Kanyongo (ZIM/NRC) 42:01
Grandmasters
2. Charmaine Cupido (NRC) 51:43
RISING SUN CHATSWORTH FREEDOM ULTRAMARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 10 KM, DURBAN, 22 APRIL
Ultra Marathon 52km
MEN
Open
4. Syvion Madikane (NRC) 3.22
5. Mawande Hlongwa (NRC) 3.23
Open Men team prize
Syvion Madikane (NRC) 3.22.00
Mawande Hlongwa (NRC) 3.23.36
Richard Dlamini (NRC) 3.30.31
Thanda Mthembu (NRC) 3.32.08
10 km
WOMEN
Open
2. Zama Mokoena (NRC) 38:34
5. Sarah Kruger (NRC) 42:35?
Half Marathon
Men
Veterans
1. Mthembeni Nzama (NRC) 1.33.40
FOREVER RESORTS LOSKOP 50 KM, MIDDELBURG TO LOSKOP DAM, 21 APRIL
Ultra Marathon
MEN
Open
2. Collin Parura (ZIM/NRC) 2:54:50
4. Bongani Possa (NRC) 3:00:24
5. Khubulani Zondo (NRC) 3:00:36
Veterans
3. Khubulani Zondo (NRC) 3:00:36
WOMEN
Open
1. Charné Bosman (NRC) 3:21:50
3. Jennifer Koech (NRC/KEN) 3:31:52
Veterans
1. Charne Bosman (NRC) 3:21:50
Half Marathon
MEN
Open?
4. Bongi Nkosi (NRC) 1:13:47?
BRUINTJIESHOOGTE 50 KM, 25 KM & 15 KM, ?PEARSTON TO SOMERSET EAST, 21 APRIL
50 km
MEN
Open ?
3. Sandile Ngunuza (NRC) 3:29:09 ?
5. Luvuyo Stephen (NRC) 3:42:52 (1st Vet) ?
Veterans
1. Luvuyo Stephen (NRC) 3:42:52
Masters
3. Welcome Loliwe (NRC) 4:05:35
WOMEN
Open
5. Sandiswa Adams (NRC) 4:44:52 ?
8. Wendy Van der Merwe (NRC) 4:51:41 ?
Veterans
2. Wendy Van der Merwe (NRC) 4:51:41 ?
25 km
MEN
Open
2. George Ntshiliza (NRC) 1:25:39 ?
10 km
MEN
Open ?
3. Lesley Koeseba (NRC) 57:16 ?
GROOT BRAKRIVIER 10KM, 21 APRIL
MEN
Open
1. Lloyd Bosman (NRC) 30:06
2. Godwin Heyns (NRC) 31:55
3. Donovan Jantjies (NRC) 32:14
50-59
1. Selwyn Losper (NRC) 36:23
Juniors
1. Christian Lingerfeld (NRC) 34:10
2. Luther Blaauw (NRC) 34:17
Walkers
1. Antonio Farmer (NRC) 50:42
2. Maxwell Brown (NRC) 58:42
WOMEN
Open
3. Anastasia Plaatjies (NRC) 43:00
50-59
1. Annemarie Van der Westhuizen (NRC) 50:43
60-69
1. Annatjie Botes (NRC) 43:13
2. Mariette De Haan (NRC) 52:26
70-79
1. Annemarie Van Eck (NRC) 1:08
2. Cielie Swiegers (NRC) 1:14
Walkers
1. Nolene Van Rensburg (NRC) 53:35
2. Karin Otto (NRC) 1:07
BIRCHWOOD HALF MARATHON & 10KM, BENONI, 22 APRIL
WOMEN
Open
3. Sifiso Ncube (NRC) 47:40