TWO OCEANS GLORY FOR THE NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB

They came, they ran and they conquered. That is exactly what the Nedbank Running Club’s Green Dream Team did as they dominated in every category at one of the most prestigious races in the country: the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon.

Taking the win in the Women’s and Men’s Ultra as well as all three Top positions in the Men’s Half Marathon, the team’s success did not stop there. Various podium positions and wins in age categories as well as two team prizes made it clear that the Green Dream Team meant business.

Men’s Ultra Race

The 25-year-old Kenyan Justin Kemboi Chesire took the win in the Men’s Ultra race. Shortly after the halfway mark he started blowing away his rivals and by the 50km mark it was clear that he would be crowned the winner. In his first ultra marathon Chesire stormed to a 3:09:21 win by 68 seconds and become only the second Kenyan to win the Ultra marathon after John Wachira in 2009. Chesire's 3:09:21 is the fastest winning time since David Gatebe's 3:08:54 in 2013.

Teammate and former Oceans winner Lebenya Nkoka followed him home, finishing 2nd in 3:10:29 with Melly Kennedy Kiptoo finishing 4th in a time of 3:11:58.

A total of 9 NRC men finished in the Top 20 of the Open Men’s field.

NRC dominated further in the men’s race when Veteran Mike Fokoroni clinched first position in the Veterans Category in a time of 3:16:57. His teammate Lindile Tokota took 2nd position in the Masters Category finishing in 3:45:22.
More glory came when the 2nd Team prize in the Men’s Ultra was awarded to the NRC team.

Women’s Ultra Race
The women’s race belonged to 28-year-old South African Gerda Steyn, the newest star on the South African running scene. Steyn, who finished fourth at last year’s Comrades Marathon, ran a superbly executed race, dominating a very competitive and international women’s field.

She clinched the title in 3:39:31, finishing 2:25 ahead of Dominika Stelmach-Stawczyk of Poland. Steyn's time is the third quickest ever by a South African.

Just before the summit at the 46km mark Steyn started made her move. Once over the top, she reached 50km in 3:16:32, already 61 seconds ahead of a struggling Stelmach-Stawczyk. Steyn never looked back, storming to an incredible finish. South African sweetheart and former Comrades winner Charné Bosman made it two out of three podium positions for the NRC when she crossed the line third in 3:45:20. Bosman was also awarded first Veteran lady home.

A total of 5 NRC ladies placed in the Top Ten, with Loveness Madziva finishing 7th, Selam Abere Alebachew 9th and Ntombesintu Mfunzi claiming the last gold medal when she finished 10th in 3:59:26. Annatjie Botes took first Grandmaster lady home in a time of 4:49:12.

Apart from these excellent individual performances the NRC clinched 1st Team prize in the Women’s Ultra.

Half Marathon

Men’s Race
In the accompanying half marathon four out of the Top Ten positions belonged to NRC men. In fact, the men from the NRC took all three podium positions, with the win going to David Manja in 1:04:07. Teammate Namakoe Nkhasi followed 7 seconds later in 1:04:14 with Benard Kipkemoi finishing 3rd in 1:04:17.
Their teammate and Veteran Vakalisa Kopola placed 2nd in the Veterans category in a time of 1:17:49.

Women’s Race
NRC’s Susy Chemaimak scored a podium position in the women’s race finishing 3rd in 1:17:01. She was followed home by Patience Murorwe who finished 4th in 1:17:32. A total of 6 NRC ladies placed in the Top 20.

Bulelwa Simae finished first Veteran in a time of 1:24:14 with Obertina Kanyongo 2nd in the Masters Category (1:34:43).

Another successful Two Oceans done and dusted for the NRC Green Dream Team. Onwards and Upwards to the 2018 Comrades Marathon!

RESULTS
OLD MUTUAL TWO OCEANS MARATHON (49TH) & HALF MARATHON (21ST), CAPE TOWN, 31 MARCH

Ultra Marathon
MEN
Open
1. Justin Kemboi Chesire (NRC/KEN) 3:09:21
2. Lebenya Nkoka (NRC/LES) 3:10:29
4. Melly Kennedy Kiptoo (NRC/KEN) 3:11:58
9. Moeketsi Mosuhli (NRC/LES) 3:14:52
10. Mike Fokoroni (NRC/ZIM) 3:16:57

Veterans
1. Mike Fokoroni (NRC/ZIM) 3:16:57

WOMEN
Open
1. Gerda Steyn (NRC) 3:39:31
3. Charné Bosman (NRC) 3:45:20
7. Loveness Madziva (NRC/ZIM) 3:56:17
9. Selam Abere Alebachew (NRC/ETH) 3:59:23
10. Ntombesintu Mfunzi (NRC) 3:59:26

Veterans
1. Charné Bosman (NRC) 3:45:20

Grandmasters
1. Annatjie Botes (NRC) 4:49:12

Team Prize Results (Ultra-Marathon)
Open
Women
1. NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB AGN - Gerda Steyn, Charne Bosman, Deanne Horn, Emmah Mathibela

40 – 49 (Ultra-Marathon)
Men
1. NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB AGN - Ludwick Mamabolo, Claude Moshiywa, Ruben Setumu, Peter Mudupe

Half Marathon
MEN
Open
1. David Manja (NRC) 1:04:07
2. Namakoe Nkhasi (NRC/LES) 1:04:14
3. Benard Kipkemoi (NRC/KEN) 1:04:17
6. Joel Mmone (NRC) 1:04:46

WOMEN
Open
3. Susy Chemaimak (NRC/KEN) 1:17:01
4. Patience Murowe (NRC/ZIM) 1:17:32
7. Rudo Mhonderwa (NRC/ZIM) 1:19:27

Veterans
1. Bulelwa Simae (NRC) 1:24:14

Team Prize Results
40 – 49 (Half Marathon)
Women
1. NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB CPT

Nedbank Running Club Hospitality Marquee

Click on the image below for more Details

Loskop Marathon

The Loskop marathon will be run on Saturday the 21st of April 2018 from Middelburg to the Forever Resort at the LOSKOP Dam.

Nedbank Running Club LVCC Nelspruit will host all the Nedbank Running Club athletes from all of the Nedbank Running Clubs Nationally.

Food and drinks will be provided. Lookout for the Nedbank Running Club Gazebo and Feather flags.

A WEEKEND OF PB’S FOR THE GREEN TEAM

It was a weekend of Personal Bests for many Green Team athletes, who dominated at races countrywide.

Excellent times were returned in the NMBM Legacy Project Motherwell Freedom Run 10 km in Port Elizabeth, with NRC taking 1^st, 3rd and 4^th positions in the men’s race. Namakoe Nkhasi (NRC/LES) lead the men home by taking the win in a PB of 28:32. Teammate David Manja crossed the line in 3^rd, also in a PB of 28:41 while Veteran Vakalisa Kopolo stormed to a 1^st place finish in the Veteran’s category in a time of 32:19 (a list leader). Junior Anele Voorman rounded off the men’s successes by finishing 3^rd Junior in 33:47.

The NRC ladies were right up there with the men. Two Oceans Gold medallist Ntombesintu Mfunzi finished 3^rd in the women’s race (35:06). Teammates Rudo Mhonderwa and Fortunate Chidzivo placed 5^th and 6^th respectively. The NRC ladies took 5 out of the Top Ten positions in the Open Women’s Category while the Veteran ladies took all three podium positions. Another great performance came from 64-year-old Grandmaster Margie Saunders, who not only won the Grandmaster Category, but also beat all the Masters in a time of 42:27 (another list leader).

More success for the NRC came at the Mall of the North Marathon in Polokwane where Ludwick Mamabolo finished 3^rd overall and 2nd Veteran in a time of 2:34 while Tabitha Tsatsa finished 2nd lady and 1^st Vet (3:11:08).

The NRC Juniors continue to shine bright as this past weekend saw 5 of them taking part in the SA Junior Track & Field Champs in Paarl. Kutlwisiso Sidinile won bronze in the Junior Men’s 1500m, setting a new PB of 3:51:47. Poloko Mphewu from the Klerksdorp Development Club earned another medal for the NRC when he finished 3rd in the 5000m Junior Men, also setting a PB of 14:31. Teammate Welma Nkuna might not have made podium, but she ran an excellent race, improving her time in the 5000m to 18:21, finishing 5th.

Last but not least a mention goes to Winnie De Winnaar who won Gold in the 100m/200m/400m at the Central Gauteng Masters Athletics Champs held in Germiston. More achievements came from Leana Venter who won the 100m in her Category as did Marlon Dunn in the 200m. He also earned a bronze in the 100m.

Indeed successes – and PB’s - to be proud of!

For more Results Click Here