The general consensus among local runners after the inaugural running of the Bridal Drift Half-Marathon through and over the hills of Mdantsane is that this is the toughest run over 21.1km in the entire region, if not the land.
To add to the challenge was the fact that it was a hot, extremely humid morning and was stifling in the valleys.
The men’s race was intriguing with the early leaders Zuko Mambula of Cool Boys, Andile Maqele of Cheetahs, Transkei and Luthando Hejana of Born 2 Run going head-to-head.
After the massive climb up to the halfway turnaround Hejana had dropped slightly off the pace but then made it up again on the sharp downhill.
In the second half, Ande Maliza of Nedbank, Port Elizabeth came from behind and moved past Hejana and eventually Maqele. Had the race been a few hundred metres longer he may well have caught Mambula too. However, the man who had led most of the way hung on to win in 73:28 with Maliza second just five seconds adrift. Maqele was third 30 seconds further back and Hejana fourth, a further 30 seconds off the pace.
Hanlie Botha of Born 2 Run had no one to push her and yet she still ran a superb race winning in 84:28, an excellent time on the tough course and in those balmy conditions.
Stephanie Smith, expecting her first child, surprisingly donned her Born 2 Run colours and arrived at the start. At the halfway mark she lay in a comfortable seventh position but then the competitive spirit got the better of her and she gave chase to finish second.
Motherwell AC of Port Elizabeth had Siphokazi Nojoko race into third, while Andrea Ranger of Old Selbornians was fourth.
Runners who either did not wear their race chip or not know what to do with it will not appear in the official results.
Border Athletics used the race to confirm, or otherwise, the fitness of potential runners for the Border Marathon team to run the SA Marathon championships in East London on February 20. The team has now been announced and reads as follows:
Men Open: Luthando Hejana (Born 2 Run), Bulelani Mgubo (All Stars) and Nkosinathi Nzingo (Municipal AC) Vet Men: Makaya Masumpa and Doran Fritz (Born 2 Run), Colbert Lolwana (Overtakers), Siyabulela Madlavana (Mdantsane AC). Masters Men: Simon Ngxeke (Born 2 Run), Temba Bhelwana (Oxford Striders), Mzoli Mpalala (Real Gijimas)
Women open: Andrea Ranger and Ingrid Webber (Old Selbornians). Masters Women: Sharon Eldridge (Old Selbornians), Alison Langtree (Born 2 Run)
Marathoners turn up heat at Bridal Drift
To add to the challenge was the fact that it was a hot, extremely humid morning and was stifling in the valleys.
The men’s race was intriguing with the early leaders Zuko Mambula of Cool Boys, Andile Maqele of Cheetahs, Transkei and Luthando Hejana of Born 2 Run going head-to-head.
After the massive climb up to the halfway turnaround Hejana had dropped slightly off the pace but then made it up again on the sharp downhill.
In the second half, Ande Maliza of Nedbank, Port Elizabeth came from behind and moved past Hejana and eventually Maqele. Had the race been a few hundred metres longer he may well have caught Mambula too. However, the man who had led most of the way hung on to win in 73:28 with Maliza second just five seconds adrift. Maqele was third 30 seconds further back and Hejana fourth, a further 30 seconds off the pace.
Hanlie Botha of Born 2 Run had no one to push her and yet she still ran a superb race winning in 84:28, an excellent time on the tough course and in those balmy conditions.
Stephanie Smith, expecting her first child, surprisingly donned her Born 2 Run colours and arrived at the start. At the halfway mark she lay in a comfortable seventh position but then the competitive spirit got the better of her and she gave chase to finish second.
Motherwell AC of Port Elizabeth had Siphokazi Nojoko race into third, while Andrea Ranger of Old Selbornians was fourth.
Runners who either did not wear their race chip or not know what to do with it will not appear in the official results.
Border Athletics used the race to confirm, or otherwise, the fitness of potential runners for the Border Marathon team to run the SA Marathon championships in East London on February 20. The team has now been announced and reads as follows:
Men Open: Luthando Hejana (Born 2 Run), Bulelani Mgubo (All Stars) and Nkosinathi Nzingo (Municipal AC) Vet Men: Makaya Masumpa and Doran Fritz (Born 2 Run), Colbert Lolwana (Overtakers), Siyabulela Madlavana (Mdantsane AC). Masters Men: Simon Ngxeke (Born 2 Run), Temba Bhelwana (Oxford Striders), Mzoli Mpalala (Real Gijimas)
Women open: Andrea Ranger and Ingrid Webber (Old Selbornians). Masters Women: Sharon Eldridge (Old Selbornians), Alison Langtree (Born 2 Run)
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