By BOB NORRIS
East London’s Mcebisi Yose, who has for the past three years finished second to Johan van der Merwe, the four-time winner and record- holder for the Washie 100, will be a definite starter tomorrow night.
This was confirmed by Mpumelelo Kolisile, the chairman of the club All Stars, for whom he runs. Kolisile was extremely upbeat about Yose’s chance of a win on his fourth journey from Port Alfred to East London.
With Van der Merwe out injured, Yose does indeed become a firm favourite to capture his first major road race title. A title that in the eyes of many local supporters and observers he fully deserves.
Yose along with two clubmates had a successful time test over 5km at the Kidd’s Beach parkrun last Saturday, when he clocked 20:16 over the rugged course and came in fourth. Running a short event within 10 days before the big race is a tried and tested method of boosting confidence for the task ahead.
On Saturday morning he will hope to run past the entrance to Kidd’s Beach, leading perhaps a field of 100 or more ultra-marathon men and women to the Washie finish at the Buffalo Club. That being the case he will recall the seaside village with much affection.
Interestingly Yose does not run Comrades before a Washie and dedicates himself to this one ultra-marathon, which is a lesson many other ultra-marathoners could perhaps learn from. Not all will agree with him; certainly Van der Merwe does run Comrades.
There could of course be a surprise entrant of ultra-marathon winning pedigree before the start, but as things stand and if the race plan falls in to place, Yose should indeed make the region proud.
Opposition cannot be taken lightly however, and of those who have previously run Washie, Tholang Moloi, who will be in the colours of the SANDF, finished third last year in 15:48 and sixth in 2014. As such Moloi knows what to expect.
In addition Mogale Piliso has entered and was fifth in 2014, while another fifth placed finisher in this year’s field is Mark McCalgan of Amanzimtoti, who ran 17:42 last year.
The men will not want to take any of the women lightly as twice before Washie has produced an overall female winner, the most famous of whom was Rae Bischoff.
For the Class of 2016 there will also be the realisation that the Washie has an impressive aura of respectability due to the efforts of many fine runners down the years, but none more so than previous winners and record contenders or holders in the form of Manie Saayman, Len Keating, Thomas Gxakaza, Louis Harmse, Adam Hassan and in the new era, Van der Merwe.
Those six make up the sub-14hr brigade. Then there were other household names that have contributed to the history and folklore of the event who will be considered in a follow-up article.
The nerves are now certainly setting in and runners and their seconding teams are already descending on the Eastern Cape.
Road Warriors eye a Washie Monster
East London’s Mcebisi Yose, who has for the past three years finished second to Johan van der Merwe, the four-time winner and record- holder for the Washie 100, will be a definite starter tomorrow night.
This was confirmed by Mpumelelo Kolisile, the chairman of the club All Stars, for whom he runs. Kolisile was extremely upbeat about Yose’s chance of a win on his fourth journey from Port Alfred to East London.
With Van der Merwe out injured, Yose does indeed become a firm favourite to capture his first major road race title. A title that in the eyes of many local supporters and observers he fully deserves.
Yose along with two clubmates had a successful time test over 5km at the Kidd’s Beach parkrun last Saturday, when he clocked 20:16 over the rugged course and came in fourth. Running a short event within 10 days before the big race is a tried and tested method of boosting confidence for the task ahead.
On Saturday morning he will hope to run past the entrance to Kidd’s Beach, leading perhaps a field of 100 or more ultra-marathon men and women to the Washie finish at the Buffalo Club. That being the case he will recall the seaside village with much affection.
Interestingly Yose does not run Comrades before a Washie and dedicates himself to this one ultra-marathon, which is a lesson many other ultra-marathoners could perhaps learn from. Not all will agree with him; certainly Van der Merwe does run Comrades.
There could of course be a surprise entrant of ultra-marathon winning pedigree before the start, but as things stand and if the race plan falls in to place, Yose should indeed make the region proud.
Opposition cannot be taken lightly however, and of those who have previously run Washie, Tholang Moloi, who will be in the colours of the SANDF, finished third last year in 15:48 and sixth in 2014. As such Moloi knows what to expect.
In addition Mogale Piliso has entered and was fifth in 2014, while another fifth placed finisher in this year’s field is Mark McCalgan of Amanzimtoti, who ran 17:42 last year.
The men will not want to take any of the women lightly as twice before Washie has produced an overall female winner, the most famous of whom was Rae Bischoff.
For the Class of 2016 there will also be the realisation that the Washie has an impressive aura of respectability due to the efforts of many fine runners down the years, but none more so than previous winners and record contenders or holders in the form of Manie Saayman, Len Keating, Thomas Gxakaza, Louis Harmse, Adam Hassan and in the new era, Van der Merwe.
Those six make up the sub-14hr brigade. Then there were other household names that have contributed to the history and folklore of the event who will be considered in a follow-up article.
The nerves are now certainly setting in and runners and their seconding teams are already descending on the Eastern Cape.
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