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Nedbank Running Club`s George Ntshiliza won the Two Oceans marathon in outstanding style.
The dominance of the foreign runners in the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon was broken by an unlikely candidate in the 42nd edition of the race on Saturday. Running in perfect autumn conditions, George Ntshiliza from the Nedbank Running Club in Port Elizabeth aged 31, became the first South African since 2007 to win the race. His time was 3:08:31 and his margin of 18 seconds over Motlhokoa Nkhabutlane from Lesotho is the smallest since 2002.
Information and statistics supplied by Riel Hauman that appeared in his weekly newsletter,Distance Running Results.-for subscription information,send e-mail to distancerr@mweb.co.za
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 Nedbank Running Club also produced the first South African athlete home last year when George`s team mate from the Nedbank Running Club in Port Elizabeth,Sandile Ngunuza was 10th in the Two Oceans Marathon.
While Lesotho bagged the first three spots in 2010, they took positions two, three, four and sixth this time. Defending champion Mabhutile Lebopo finished 12th.
The race up front was dominated up front by Nedbank International team members in the likes of Wesley Ruto and Johnstone Chebii Kemboi which was leading for most of the race.
In the women’s race it was business as usual although the Russian twins was pushed by Nedbank Running Club`s Nina Podnebesnova who finished 5th eventually.Olesya Nurgalieva from Russia took her third win and twin sister Elena placing second. Olesya’s time of 3:33:58 is the second fastest in the history of the race and the quickest ever on the current, somewhat more difficult course. Both sisters have now won three times.
The defending champion in the accompanying half marathon, national marathon champion Lusapho April, was more successful than Lebopo in the ultra marathon and won again. His 1:03:58 is four seconds slower than last year, but the fastest by a South African in 2011.
Xolisa Tyali from the Nedbank Running Club in Soweto finished 2nd in a time of 1 hour 4 minutes and 18 seconds.
There was a huge upset in the women’s half marathon when both Helalia Johannes (Namibia) and Nedbank Running Club`s Irvette van Blerk broke Rene Kalmer’s course record with times of 1:11:56 and 1:12:04. Rene Kalmer and Nedbank team mate finished in distress in fourth place, grimacing from pain caused by ITB in her left knee. She had to be assisted to the medical tent where she received immediate treatment.
Although Rene went on a training run the next morning from her hotel in Cape Town city the injury is casting doubt over her participation in the Prague Marathon on 8 May.
Johannes scored her fourth victory; she also won in 2006, 2007 and 2009. Irvette Van Blerk has now finished second two years in a row.
Hometown favourite Zintle Xiniwe from the Nedbank Running Club in Cape Town took third in 1:14:58; she was also third in 2007.The good weather had both participants and organisers smiling as Cape Town put its best foot foreward. It is not the latest in the year the Two Oceans has ever been held – it was run on the same date in 1973, and the first three races were all held in May.
In the ultra marathon Nedbank Running Club`s Kenyan Wesley Ruto made the early running in the pre-dawn darkness, leading for the first hour before compatriot and Nedbank team mate Johnstone Chebii Kemboi took over.Ruto ,who was instructed to make the pace very fast up front to try and tired out the Lesotho `runners dropped out at 23 km.after a job well done.
Shadrack Mudimbu ,another Nedbank athlete went into the lead, followed at some distance by two large groups which included the Lesotho contingent as well as South African marathon record holder Gert Thys.
At the halfway mark, just before the first major climb up Chapman's Peak it was Nedbank Running Club`s Kemboi and Mudimbu leading accompany by Modibe Mamabolo in 1:33:47, with Thys (who would fail to finish), Donald Mathipa, Enos Matalane and Mkhonzeni Basi 12 seconds behind. They were followed by Mike Fokoroni (ZIM), former winner Moses Njodzi (ZIM) and Nedbank athlete, Henry Moyo from Malawi.
The Nedbank Running Club star to be,Ntshiliza was exactly 30 seconds behind, running easily in a group of twelve that included defending champion Lebopo.
As the climb started, NMedbank`s Kemboi moved ahead. By the time he reached the summit at 34 km (180 m above sea level), he was 20 seconds ahead of Fokoroni, who had Michael
Mazibuko on his heels. Double Comrades champion Stephen Muzhingi (ZIM) had joined the top ten, as had Lebenya Nkoka (LES).
Then Kemboi, running in his first Two Oceans, made the mistake that had cost so many athletes a top position, or even a win, on this demanding course in the past. He surged down “Chappies” and by the time he reached Hout Bay at 39 km, the bone-jarring descent had started to take its toll.
Soon he slowed on the small but rolling hills through the town and showed signs that his leg was bothering him. He could not hold off the chasers any longer and Mazibuko, who had passed Fokoroni, swept to the front.
The first two or three kilometres out of Hout Bay towards the standard marathon mark are slightly uphill and Mazibuko stormed up the incline – another mistake, according to the wise men of the Two Oceans. But he was looking in excellent form and reached 42.2 km in 2:19:42 – just a few seconds slower than the leaders did last year.
His lead over Fokoroni was 34 seconds. Kemboi was 27 seconds behind the Zimbabwean and he was followed 29 seconds later by Lebohang Monyele (LES). Mazibuko was flying, but what he did not know was that in his wake the patient Ntshiliza had joined the top ten for the first time, going past the marathon mark in 2:21:13 in sixth place. Rounding out the gold medal positions were Nkhabutlane, Tsotang Maine (LES), Moyo, Moeketsi Mosuhli (LES) and 2009 champion John Wachira (KEN), who was 1:39 behind the leader. Of these ten only six would reach the finish still in gold medal position; Mazibuko would fade to 16th and Wachira would not finish. Such is the nature of the Two Oceans. The reason lay before them: the murderous, twisting, unrelenting climb up Constantia Nek to the highest point on the course at 46 km, where you are 215 m above the sea. Soon the writing was on the wall for the leader. He suddenly started cramping and had to give way to Fokoroni, with the clock showing 2:27:41. Thirty seconds later Mazibuko started walking, but managed to resume running. Meanwhile, behind them, the real racing had started.
Nkhabutlane had accelerated immediately after going through the marathon point and was overhauling Fokoroni with every stride. Ntshiliza had also decided it was time to make his move, although he was still more than a minute off the lead. At the top of the climb Nkhabutlane’s chase put him just 7 seconds behind Fokoroni, and at 47 km (2:38:42) he grabbed the lead. Maine had moved into third, followed by Monyele, Mosuhli, Ntshiliza, Muzhingi, Malobola, Lebopo and a recovered Mazibuko. Nkhabutlane, winner of the Cape Town Marathon in 2008 and 2009 and brother-in-law of Lebopo, seemed set to score another victory in the Mother City. At 50 km, which he reached in 2:48:05, he was 28 seconds in front of Fokoroni, who was slowing, and 49 seconds ahead of Maine, who did not finish last year. Monyele followed, then Mosuhli, who was second in 2010, with Ntshiliza next in 2:49:21. Wachira was still there, at 2:52:54, but would stop soon after. Nkhabutlane was running steadily, yet was showing signs of strain in his upper body. But as the final kilometres ticked by, he was holding on to the lead in a desperate struggle to give Lesotho another victory. Unfortunately for him, there was a more determined and faster runner behind him. Nedbank athlete Ntshiliza, who was 40th in 2009 and 26th in 2010 – but twice third in the half marathon was averaging 16 seconds per kilometre faster than the leader and was cutting the deficit rapidly.
With 1200 metres to run, Ntshiliza closed in. For about 50 metres he ran behind his adversary, waiting to strike. When it came, it seemed at first as if Nkhabutlane could hold on, but then Ntshiliza, who is self-coached, glanced at his rival and pulled away decisively. He could not really sprint to the line, but ran strongly across the sports fields of the University of Cape Town and then sank to his knees after crossing the timing mats. His victory was the smallest since Simon Mphulanyane outsprinted Luketz Swartbooi by 11 seconds in 2002.
George Ntshiliza ran the last 6 km in 19:10 as against Nkhabutlane’s 20:00
Maine redeemed himself with the third position, while Muzhingi continued his consistent performance in the Two Oceans: he has been eighth, fourth, fourth and now fifth, but his 3:09:46 is his best time. Fokoroni was seventh and Muthubi ninth after having been only 20th at the marathon mark, while Monyele had to be content with the first silver medal and Lebopo finished one position behind him.“
I know what my mistake was last year,” the George said. “I did not train properly, but this time I started proper training last year already.” He said he did not believe in going to altitude to prepare for a race like the Two Oceans, as many of his rivals do. “I showed that South Africans can beat athletes from other African countries. I left school in Grade 10 and have been a professional athlete since then. But now I have some money and I would like to go back to school to finish my studies.” Ntshiliza, who has two children, won R250 000 in prize money as well as R80 000 from Nedbank Running club including a bonus from the club of R20 000 because he is a South African On top of that our Club shoe sponsor NIKE will contribute another R100 000 as appreciation for his efforts. He has concentrated on shorter distances so far in his career and represented South Africa in the 2002 World Half-marathon Championships. His marathon PB is 2:16:29, run in the 2007 Cape Town Marathon.
Earlier this year he was 15th in the SA Marathon (2:24:29) and apart from that race has competed in eleven others in 2011, winning six. He ran two 25 km races, but no half marathons. The weekend before the Two Oceans he was second in the Umhlobo Wenene 10 km in a quick 29:14; the winner was April, also tuning up with 28:42.
Triple US 50 km champion Michael Wardian who also ran in the colours of Nedbank Running Club, who was very confident at the pre-race media conference and said he wanted to go through the marathon mark in 2:19 (he did so in 2:25:20), finished 19th in 3:16:35.
Michael who is also preparing for the Comrades marathon next month shown no signs of tiredness as he went out for a recovery run with me on Saturday afternoon after the Two Oceans. We ran up to Tafelberg and came down with the cable car.
In the women’s race the Nurgalieva twins were put under pressure in the early stages by compatriot and Nedbank athlete Nina Podnebesnova as well as Mamorallo Tjoka (LES), who were ahead at halfway. Former winner Simona Staicu ,Nedbank International (HUN) was just behind the Nurgalievas.
They moved into the lead shortly after that (“I really pushed up Chapmans Peak,” said Olesya), but at 33 km suffered a setback when Elena started limping and stopped because of a leg problem. Olesya was running strongly at this stage and her sister told her to go ahead. But Podnebesnova was right behind her and moved to the front after 2 hours 15 minutes of running.
She could not open a significant gap, however, and in Hout Bay Olesya caught her again and reached the marathon mark in 2:37:38, 1:50 ahead. Elena was 2:22 behind her sister and running in the company of Tjoka, with Nedbank`s ,Staicu in fifth. At the top of Constantia Nek Olesya seemed to be struggling, but at the 50 km point (3:10:18) she was a safe 3:40 ahead of her resurging sister, with Tjoka now having passed Podnebesno
Nina Podnebesnova Simona Staicu
 
Olesya stretched her lead by another 16 seconds to score the biggest of her three victories. Since running the race for the first time in 2004, the twins have only finished out of both first and second on two occasions – in 2006, when only Elena ran and was second, and in 2007, when they were third and fourth.
Tjoka, who won the half marathon in 2005 and 2008, was third and Staicu fourth, with Podnebesnova fifth.
Staicu, who won at her first attempt in 2003 but has not run since 2007, has shown admirable consistency in her five Two Oceans: first, fourth, third, fifth and fourth.
Nedbank athlete Lizzy Hawker and trail running star from the United Kingdom finished a solid 6th position and she will be a force to reckon with next month in Durban at the Comrades marathon.
A strong finishing Lizzy Hawker
Nedbank Running Club produced more than 50% of the top 10 finishers in the half Marathon.
Half marathon-Nedbank athletes results
MEN
2. Xolisa Tyali Nedbank RC CGA 22 1:04:
6. Luwis Masunda Nedbank RC (ZIM) 35 1:05:
7. Nkosinathi Madyo Nedbank RC WPA 23 1:05:09
8. Daniel Yegon Nedbank RC (KEN) 27 1:05:31
10. Lungisa Mdedelwa Nedbank Transkei
WOMEN
2. Irvette van Blerk Nedbank RC CGA 23 1:12:04
3. Zintle Xiniwe Nedbank RC WPA 24 1:14:58
4. Rene Kalmer Nedbank RC CGA 30 1:16:19
5. Rutendo Nyahora Nedbank RC (ZIM) 22 1:16:23
7. Christine Kalmer Nedbank RC CGA 25 1:18:04
10. Cary-Ann Smith Nedbank RC KZN 31 1:21:23
Nedbank Running Club members enjoyed a successful Two Oceans marathon.
George Ntsihliza,Nedbank Running Club Port Elizabeth put the cherry on the top of a very successful and enjoyable Two Oceans marathon for all Nedbank Running Club members.
More than 500 Nedbank runners competed in the two races-the 21 kilometre half marathon and the 56 kilometre Ultra marathon. The perfect weather circumstances made it even better and the atmosphere at the Nedbank-Spur invested marquee tent was outstanding.
We want to congratulate all Nedbank athletes with their achievements and are looking forward to the Comrades marathon next month.
 
 
 
History was made at Pretoria Central Prison on Easter Saturday,23 April 2011.
A group of prisoners who started a running club 15 years ago in Central prison in Pretoria decided to tackle the Two Oceans marathon on treadmills.
The running group that is supported over the years by me with running attire,shoes,medals,trophies etcetera have 5 treadmills to their use. The group that is managed by Wolfram Abbott, nephew of SA Heavy weight champion Jimmy Abbott, see themselves part of the Nedbank Running Club and they started to run exactly at 6h30 on Saturday the 23rd of April 2011,the same time as when the Two Oceans started.
All the treadmills are fixed with odometers and the runners could see exactly how far they ran.
The first runner to complete the 56 kilometre was Mike in a time of 4 hours and 10 minutes and 25 seconds. Wolfram Abbott was second in 4 hours 15 minutes and 05 seconds. Third went to Coetzee in 5 hours and 25 minutes 04 seconds with Godfrey and Sipho 4th and 5th respectively in 5 hours 40 minutes 20 seconds and 5 hours 45 minutes and 33 seconds.
Wolfram was complaining that severe cramps kept him out of first place but all of them were very happy afterwards with their achievements.
The group are now geared up to tackle the Comrades marathon on 29 May 2011 and any donations like supplements,shoes,etc.will be highly appreciated by the running group. Please let us know if there is anybody who wants to contribute.
Wolfram and his mates is clocking heavy miles at the moment. Last week direct after the Two Oceans their training log looked like this.
Monday 15 kilometre
Tuesday 20 kilometre
Wednesday 30 kilometre
Thursday 30 kilometre
Friday 25 kilometre
Saturday 40 kilometre
This week they are planning to do 250 kilometres.
Eight years ago when I was still managing the Harmony running Clubs we did ran a race against this prison club in Central Prison on a 200 meter loop with a lot of turns and twists inside the prison. We did 50 laps to give us a 10 kilometre race. Two of my top runners won in 33 minutes with Wolfram third in 34 minutes and myself and Deon Brummer 5th and 6th in 36 minutes.
The jail run in 2003-Wolfram Abbott leading with Pio ,Mpolokeng behind,Nick Bester, and Deon Brummer in the background.
Regards-Nick Bester National Manager of the Nedbank Runnning Clubs.
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The Spar Grand Prix series mid-season results have just been released and Nedbank athletes are dominating the podium.
