Rene, who is also a Nedbank brand ambassador, took on a very competitive field in the Yokohama Marathon and finished fifth in a time of two hours 29 minutes and 59 seconds.

‘I am walking on air and I’m very happy with my time and position in the race. I had to force myself to start slowly and ran an even paced race. I was in 20th position at one stage in the race and just kept on passing runners all the way as the going got tougher,’ said Kalmer.

‘The race only started at 12h00 pm and the temperature climbed to 24 degrees with a high humidity as well and that made things very hard to cope with,’ she added.

This is the second time in four months that Rene has run an Olympic qualifying time for the marathon.

The Yokohama Marathon was won by Ryoko Kizaki (26) who triumphed in a toe-to-heel battle with fellow Japanese runner Yoshimi Ozaki.  Kizaki was a few seconds behind Ozaki after passing the 40km point but caught up over 600m and held on to the lead crossing the line in two hours, 26 minutes and 32 seconds.

Ozaki was second in 2:26:49, followed by Mara Yamauchi of Britain third in 2:27:24.

‘We are very glad that we could support this fantastic South African and Olympic prospect in her  running career and know that Rene will still come up with greater performances in future for the Nedbank Green Dream Team,’ said Nick Bester, National Manager of the Nedbank Running Club.

Mara Yamauchi, Rene Kalmer and agent Brendan Reilly



More Nedbank Running Club Results from the weekend

Alpha Pharm 10Km
Senior Men   
1 Masanda Mlonyeni Nedbank RC 31.19
3 George Ntshiliza Nedbank RC 31.29
Senior Ladies   
2 Deliwe Nyanga Nedbank RC 39.32
3 Celeste Swart Nedbank RC 42.10
35 - 39 Men   
1 Alfred Qogi Nedbank RC 34.54
2 Michael Magson Nedbank RC 38.11
40 - 44 Men   
2 John Rafani Nedbank RC 35.24
45 - 49 Men   
2 Colben Ngcupe Nedbank RC 37.41
65 - 69 Men   
1 Tamsonqa Jusayi Nedbank RC 40.47
75+ Men   
1 John Peart Nedbank RC 1.12.20
Junior Men   
1 Melikhaya Frans Nedbank RC 34.39
40 - 44 Ladies   
1 Celeste Swart Nedbank RC 42.10

Melikhaya Frans, Masanda Mlonyeni, Tamsanqa Jusayi, George Ntshiliza
                        

Deliwe Nyanga and Celeste Swart
                       

Pollsmoor 10km: Wednesday 16 November
2nd Female Overall: Candyce Hall
2nd Junior Female: Sinead Hattingh
2nd 40+ Female: Chantel Simpson
2nd 50+ Female: Charmaine Cupido

Winelands 16km Trail Run: Sunday 20 November
2nd Overall Female: Nicola Collins (Boland)

Winelands 42.2km and 21.1km: Saturday 19 November
On a very hot day in Stellenbosch a record field tackled the scenic yet cahallenging 42.km and 21.1km routes. The club gazebo provided some very welcome shade and refreshments for runners after their race and it was great to host and meet Nedbank runners from other provinces. Nedbank Running Club was very prominent on the podium for both the 42.2km and 21.1km. Well done to all Nedbank runners!

Nedbank Western Cape Club gazebo at Winelands 42.2km and 21.1km
                      

21.1km Results:
3rd Overall Male: Pumlani Sigidi (WP) (01:12:14)
2nd 40+ Male: Jimmy Drury (WP) (01:25:39)
1st 50+ Men: Robert Lindsay (WP) (01:27:38)
2nd Junior Men: Marshall Rooi (Boland) (01:25:07)
42.2km Results:
3rd Male Overall: Henrico Rooi (Boland) (02:32:43)

The 42.2km event was also the Boland Marathon Championships. We are proud to announce that Nedbank Running Club has 2 champions:
Henrico Rooi is the overall men's champion and Japhta Nero's time of 02:56:34 secured him the 40+ champion's title!

Henrico Rooi with Nedbank kit on the podium.