The men from the Nedbank Running Club (NRC) showed their competitors what’s ahead for the rest of the running season when five of them placed in the top ten at Joburg’s competitive Stor-age Pirates 10km, seen by many as a season opener.
NRC’s speedster David Manja led the men home in a very fast time of 30:05. He was followed by teammate Namakoe Nkhasi in second place (30:20).
The elite ladies from the NRC ruled at the past weekend’s SPAR Women’s Challenge in Pretoria with 5 of the top ten positions going to NRC ladies. Rutendo Nyahora (NRC) clinched second position in 34:24 with three times Grand Prix winner Van Zyl fourth in 34:56. Van Zyl produced a spectacular performance barely eight weeks after giving birth to her second son. On top of this the Veterans and Grandmasters titles also went to NRC women. Former Comrades champion Charné Bosman took the Veterans title in a time of 37:47 while Margie Saunders claimed the Grandmaster title in 44:56.
Another lady who did her club proud is the evergreen Olga Howard. Two days after turning 60, Howard won her new age category at the Mckenna & Scott Pinelands 10km, crossing the line in a time of 43:13. At the same race the Veteran duo of Mthandazo Qhina (31:03) and Vakalisa Kopolo (32:18) finished 1st and 2nd respectively in their age category. Their female teammates Coriaan de Villiers clinched first Veteran lady with Chantel Simpson in second spot. Master lady Obertina Kanyongo finished first amongst the master women.
Spectaculor performances all round from the NRC team.
RESULTS
STOR-AGE PIRATES 10KM, GREENSIDE, 5 AUGUST
MEN
Open
1. David Manja (NRC) 30:05
2 Namakoe Nkhasi (NRC) 30:20
5. Phillimon Mathiba (NRC) (time not confirmed)
7. Kutlwisiso Sidinile (NRC) 32:13
9. Lucky Mtshali (NRC) (time not confirmed)
Juniors
2. Kutlwisiso Sidinile
MCKENNA & SCOTT PINELANDS 10 KM, PINELANDS, 5 AUGUST
MEN
Veterans
1. Mthandazo Qhina (NRC) 31:03
2. Vakalisa Kopolo (NRC) 32:18
WOMEN
Veterans
1. Coriaan de Villiers (NRC) 42:01
2. Chantel Simpson (NRC) 43:09
Masters
1. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 41:25
Grandmasters
1. Olga Howard (NRC) 43:13
3. Charmaine Cupido (NRC) 48:57
DURBAN RUNNER HALF MARATHON & 10 KM CHALLENGE, DURBAN, 5 AUGUST
10 km ?
WOMEN
Open
1. Sarah Kruger (NRC) 40:31 ?
SPAR GRAND PRIX SERIES, PRETORIA, 4 AUGUST
WOMEN
Open
2. Rutendo Nyahora (NRC/ZIM) 34:24
4. Irvette van Zyl (NRC) 34:56
5. Susy Chemaimak (NRC/KEN) 35:34
6. Rudo Mhonderwa (NRC/ZIM) 36:17
10. Portia Ngwenya (NRC) 36:46
13. Patience Murowe (NRC/ZIM) 37:33
15. Charné Bosman (NRC) 37:43
19. Ntombesintu Mfunzi (NRC) 38:03
Veterans
1. Charné Bosman (NRC) 37:47
2. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 39:59
3. Jacinta Murugu (NRC) 40.03
Masters
3. Ansa Strydom (NRC) 51:21
Grandmasters
1. Margie Saunders (NRC) 44:56
3. Francis van Blerk (NRC) 53:33
OAKLAND HALF MARATHON, BRACKENFELL, 28 JULY
MEN
Grandmasters
1. Robbie Lindsay (NRC) 1:32:00
Juniors
3. Simangaliso Ngalwana (NRC) 1:25:08
WOMEN
Open
1. Amy Abrahams (NRC) 1:25:35
2. Madele du Plessis (NRC) 1:26:49
Veterans
1. Ursula Frans (NRC) 1:30:37
Masters
1. Obertina Kanyongo (NRC/ZIM) 1:32:02
Grandmasters
1. Charmaine Cupido (NRC) 1:48:05
CROSS-COUNTRY
WP LEAGUE MEETING (5TH) ELFINDALE, 29 JULY
SR MEN (10km)
1. Siviwe Nkombi (NRC) 33:47
SR MEN (4km)
6. Mbali Hhashe (NRC) 13:32
VETERAN MEN (8KM)
1. Mthandazo Qhina (NRC) 26:47
2. Vakalisa Kopola (NRC) 29:11
MASTER MEN (8 km)
2. Andrew Cooper (NRC) 31:46
SR WOMEN (10KM)
1. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 40:55
SR WOMEN (4KM)
10. Annereen Malan (NRC) 20:14
VETERAN WOMEN (4KM)
2. Busisiwe Matiwane (NRC) 17:55
3. Sharon Nel (NRC) 17:59
MASTER WOMEN (4KM)
2. Olga Howard (NRC) 17:47
3. Mariaan Malan (NRC) 18:34
MPUMALANGA CHAMPIONSHIPS, NKANGALA, 28 JULY
SR MEN (8KM)
10. Kevin Deflar (NRC) 36:46
KZN CHAMPIONSHIPS, NEWCASTLE
SR MEN (4km)
4. Sibusiso Kubheka (NRC) 12:25
WOMEN (4km)
35-39
1. Zama Mokoena (NRC) 15:10
2. Cary-Ann Smith (NRC) 16:30
40-44
1. Precious Duma (NRC) 18:43
45-49
4. Sibongile Ziqubu (NRC) 19:45
5. Hleziphi Ncayiyana (NRC) 20:05
50-54
3. Xoli Mwelase (NRC) 19.55
MEN (8km)
45-49
1. Mandla Hlongwa (NRC) 34:15
3. Nhlanhla Mtshali (NRC) 36:16