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2017 Comrades Marathon Route Change and Official Distance

As aspirant Comrades runners prepare themselves for peak performance in this year’s up-run, the Comrades Marathon Association has announced the official distance of the 2017 Comrades Marathon as well as marginal changes to the route.

CMA Race Director, Rowyn James says, “The officially measured and certified distance is 86.73km. With regards to the route changes, we will return to the original up-run course through Pinetown without any detours and follow the traditional route from the start outside the Durban City Hall all the way to Pietermaritzburg, except for the last 7km or so.”

James continues, “Just after the top of Polly Shortts, a revised route will be followed to the new finish venue of Scottsville Racecourse. The route is similar to the one of the 1998 and 2000 Comrades Marathons, with a few minor tweaks here and there.”

The 2017 Comrades up-run will be slightly shorter than the two most recent up-run routes. The 2013 route was 86.86km long while the 2015 route measured 87.72km.

In line with the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act 2010, James has also confirmed that the Scottsville Racecourse will serve as the finish venue for this year’s race. James says, “Aligning with the requirements of the Events Act necessitated the move to the racecourse. The landmark location served as the finish venue of both the 1998 and 2000 editions of the Comrades Marathon.”

James says, “We are working closely with the owners of the Scottsville Racecourse, Gold Circle, to ensure that the facilities and other arrangements are in keeping with Comrades Marathon standards and to meet the needs of both our runners and spectators on race day, Sunday - 4 June 2017.”

By the Comrades Marathon Association’s

Mosiako proves that he deserves a chance to represent SA at the Cross Country World Championships

Thabang Mosiako (Nedbank Running Club) certainly justified his inclusion in the Provisional National Cross Country Squad over the weekend when he won the Johnson Crane 10km race in Benoni.

He was one of a group of athletes who have appealed to Athletics South Africa (ASA) about being originally left out. The appeal was successful that led to Mosiako and 18 other athletes being included increasing the size of the squad to 69 athletes.

"We are delighted to have strengthened the preparation squad for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, and pleased that some of our most accomplished elite athletes have shown interest in competing in Kampala," said Athletics South Africa President, Aleck Skhosana.

"Cross Country is a tough discipline which forms the foundation of distance running and we hope to send a full strength team to compete against the world's best."

The Johnson Crane 10km race was one of races identified by ASA to serve as a trial run for the final selection. Mosiako won the race in 29:29 but he was not the only athlete to make sure that the national selectors took note of their performance.

Joel Mmone (Nedbank Running Club) was second in 29:58 with Precious Mashele (CAN) third in 30:02 and Phillimon Mathiba (Nedbank Running Club) fourth. All four athletes are in the running to represent South Africa at the World Championship.

The Johnson Crane 21km race was won by Lucky Mohale (Boxer). His winning time was 1:06:00. Xolisa Tyali (Nedbank Running Club) crossed the finish line in second place running a time of 1:06:23 with Philani Buthelezi (KPMG) third in a time of 1:06:32.

Patience Marawe (Nedbank Running Club) won the women’s half-marathon in a time of 1:18:06. Rudo Mhonderwa (Maxed) was second in 1:18:11 and Rutendo Nyahara (Nedbank Running Club) third in 1:20:41.

The Malobolos achieve a rare running feat in Springs

There are not many married couples with a passion for running that can boast about being victorious at the same road racing event over the same distance on the same day.

Vusi and Tshifhiwa Malobolo of the Nedbank Running Club achieved this unique feat over the weekend at the Garbie road running event in Springs, when Vusi won the men's 32 km race in a time of 1:53:16 and Tshifhiwa won the women's race in 2:13:34.

According to Vusi, there were quite a few races in the past where both he and his wife managed to get a top 10 placing or finish on the podium, but they had never won on the same day at the same race.

Just before they got married in 2012 Tshifhiwa won the women's City2City ultra marathon and Vusi finished third in the men's race.

'Being able to win on Sunday is something really special,' Vusi says.

It could be claimed that they met literally at 'high speed' while both of them were attending a training camp. Vusi does not elaborate whether it was Tshifhiwa's fleet-footedness that attracted his attention or whether they got to know each other while gasping for oxygen during a training run.

'We got married in 2012 and since then we never really stopped running. Our day starts with a run and we finish with a run. I presume you can say we are a sort of professional "running couple". And we still enjoy every kilometre.'

Pule Tjaoane (Ulinda) finished second in the men's 32 km, running a time of 1:53:47, and Nkosi Skosana (Anglo) finished third in 1:54:03.

Yolandé Maclean (Born2Run) was second in the women's race in a time of 2:14:31, and Salome Cooper (Born2Run) third in 2:20:19.

The men's 15 km was won by junior athlete Thabo Masima (Nedbank Running Club). His winning time was 50:51, with Lethabo Morapedi (Ulinda) second in 52:18 and Dumisani Masima (Ulinda) third in 52:21.

Pio strives to help young, talented athletes fulfil their potential

There are many talented young athletes in South Africa who will never fulfil their potential because they won’t get the opportunities to do so.

This statement is nothing new but South African athletics remain a sad state of affairs. Luckily there are those who realise this and are prepared to go out of their way to try and make a difference.

One of these unsung heroes is definitely Pio Mpolokeng of the Nedbank Running Club in Central North West, who is actively involved in identifying young talented athletes in rural areas. But his contribution does not stop at that.

With the help of NB Sport Mpolokeng has started a unique programme that selects nine young athletes and gives them proper training over the course of three years. They are also given ample opportunity to compete at various events.

In December last year Mpolokeng made his final selection of the nine athletes that he will be coaching for the next three years; the youngest is 14 and the oldest 16. The athletes will attend class at the Are-Fadimeheng Secondary School in Klerksdorp.

Nick Bester (NB Sport) has taken on the responsibility of paying for their school fees, school clothes and accommodation. That is not all. All nine athletes will receive running clothes and shoes and they are guaranteed of getting decent meals each day.

Bester and Mpolokeng emphasize that they are trying to adopt a holistic approach. 'I looked for disciplined athletes who relish the challenge of hard work and dedication. Naturally the emphasis is on helping them to become better athletes, but it is equally important that they excel in their studies,' says Mpolokeng.

What has been happening in South African sprinting over the last two years has been exciting. There is definite revival happening, as seen in the performances of Wayde van Niekerk (400 metres) and Akani Simbine (100 metres). Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about South Africa’s middle- and long-distance running.

At the Olympic Games in Rio Caster Semenya was the only South African middle-distance athlete to win a medal.

Mpolokeng and Bester believe that this is not a true reflection of South African athletics.

'Believe me, the last few years made me realise that South Africa has a lot of talented young middle-distance athletes. But the problem is that very few coaches are really prepared to go out into the rural areas to identify them and then get a programme started to help them to fulfil their potential,' says Mpolokeng.

'Hopefully one or more of the athletes we are working with will go on to represent South Africa at a World Championship or the Olympic Games. If that happens, it will be amazing.'

Akasia Wonderpark 3 in 1

The Nedbank Running Club athletes also made their presence felt during the Akasia Wonderpark 21km and 42km races.

Bafana Dube (Boot Camp) won the half-marathon in 1:11:36. Masa Nkosi (Born2Run) was second in 1:11:38 and Collen Mailola (Nedbank Running Club) third.

Steven Dikobo (Temp) showed a clean pair of heels in the men’s marathon outrunning his nearest rival by more than four minutes. His winning time was 2:35:01 with Raphael Ndlovu (Nedbank Running Club) second in 2:39:20 and Thulani Duma (Nedbank Running Club) third in 2:39:46.

Ottosdal Road Race

The Ottosdal 10km race was won by Tshepo Tshile who ran a time of 32:03. Xaba Mavuso finished second in 32:16.

Tshepang Mogale won the men’s junior race while Samuel Matsepe was second in the men’s half-marathon running a time of 1:09:16.

PDAC 25 km

In Pinetown the downhill PDAC 25 km, was run for the 36th time. Jenna Challenor scored a repeat – and huge – victory in 1:30:21, more than 3 minutes faster than last year. Her time is the second fastest by a South African on all courses, behind only Colleen de Reuck's 1:27:26 in the same race in 1994. The SA record is the 1:31:15 run by Nicole Fuller in Germiston in 1995.

Shelly Young (Chiltern AC) was second in 1:42:49 3 and Cary-Anne Smith (Nedbank Running Club) third in 1:45:51.

The men’s race was won by Sipho Mbanjwa (Boxer). He ran a time of 1:21:36 Mziwenkosi Mjaja (Nedbank Running Club) was second in  1:22:17 3 and Lindokuhle Sithole (Phantane) third in 1:22:37

Burger/Rafis Friendly City Marathon

The Nedbank Running Club athletes gave a good account of themselves at Die Burger/Rafis Friendly City Marathon and 10km event taking seven of the 12 podium placings on offer in the men’s and women’s elite races.

Mzolisi Makhanda (Nedbank Running Club) won the men’s marathon in 2:35:03 with his clubmate, George Ntshiliza second in 2:38:32 and Charles Segalo (Charto) third in 2:43:45.

The women’s marathon was won by Nthombesinta Mfunzi (Nedbank Running Club) in a time wof 3:10:04. Davera Magson from the same club was second in 3:17:58 and Elmare Bezuidenhout (Charto) third in 3:31:50.

The men’s 10km race was won by Lubabalo Mdlungwane (Ikhamva). His winning time was 33:51. Brendon Effenaar (Nedbank Running Club) was second in 34:32 and Duwayne Lucas (Aspen Pharma Car) third in 35:31.

Joan Viljoen (Nedbank Running Club) won the women’s 10km race in 45:54 with Andiswa Fezani from the same club second in 46:51 and Lize de Villiers (Schools EPA) third in 48:04.

Track & Fields Potchefstroom

The Nedbank Running Club in Central North West’s latest development program is not even three weeks on the go and already the athletes are giving a good account of themselves.

Pio Mpolokeng (head coach) proudly sent through the results of the 3 000 metres for senior men at last week’s track meeting in Potchefstroom. His athletes took the first nine places - 1. Tshepo Tshitse 8:40; 2. Xaba Mavuso 8:42; 3. Tshepang Moilwa 9:22; 4. Poloko Maphunye 9:25; 5. Moses Bulwane  9:33; 7. Oratile Mogale 9:42; 8, Otsile Owageng 9:43.

PWC George Claasen Memorial Road Race

Other good results for the Nedbank Running Club were Namakhoe Nkhasi winning the 10 km event at the PWC George Claasen Memorial Road Race in 30:18 and Beryl Makokha coming third in the women's 21 km, clocking a time of 1:34:28.

Schoemanshoek 10 km and 21 km

In the southern Cape it was once again the athletes of the Nedbank Running Club that dominated during the Schoemanshoek 10 km and 21 km races.

The club made a clean sweep in the men's and women's 10 km races, with Dullan Solomons winning the men's race in 33:55. Elfonzo Pieterse was second in 34:42 and Anderson Ncube third in 34:57.

The women's race was won by Staphany Petro. Her winning time was 39:55, with Brittney-Ann Meyer second in 47:15 and Ronelle Engelbrecht third in 48:07.

The men's half-marathon was also an all-green affair with John April winning in 1:11:09, Godwin Heyns finishing second in 1:17:05 and Auchten October third in 1:19:45.

Nedbank Running Club athletes did well in the women's 21 km with Anel van Wyk winning in 1:19:10 and Annetjie Botes second in 1:35:36. Elmien du Plessis (Hartenbos) came third in 1:49:35.

Track & Field Germiston

Kutlwisiso Sidinile from the Nedbank Running Club, who will probably represent South Africa at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala in March, finished third in the 5 000 m race at the Central Gauteng track meeting in Germiston. He ran a time of 15:15.