The 11th running of the Mdantsane 10km road race, hosted by Real Gijimas, lived up to everything that might have been expected of what is probably Buffalo City’s premier 10km event.
From the start gun two new visitors from Uitenhage, Andile Motwani and Zolani Nyonqo, in the colours of Tinharha AC went out in front, with Easy Equities Born 2 Run’s diminutive Lukhanyo Ngxoko pacing them stride for stride.
Not too far behind them was a pack of chasing runners that included the 2017 Two Oceans winner, Lungile Gongqa of Nedbank Western Province and Luthando Hejana of the host club.
The front three stayed together through halfway, but by the time the 8km mark had been reached Ngqaba had dropped off the pace and been replaced by Gongqa.
The second last of the many hills was a killer and it was at this stage that the man from Cape Town made his move. Motwani followed, but Ngxoko faltered slightly.
With 500m to go it looked like Gongqa would win but the younger man had speed to invest and a sprint finish saw him pip the more experienced man to win in 31:22, one second to the good and almost two minutes quicker than the winning time in 2016.
Ngxoko was third in 31:57, and a strong finishing Ngqaba fourth in 32:07.
Born 2 Run’s Siyabulela Madlavana was the first veteran home and ninth overall in a time of 34:14, ahead of Zingisile Marikeni of Nedbank in 35:32 with Zolile Mhlahlo from PE Achilles in 35:35. The junior men’s race was pleasingly a close tussle, albeit between two athletes well ahead of the field.
Capping a fine day for Tinharha AC, Xabiso Kobe headed off a strong finish from Born 2 Run’s Lithobe Menzeleli. Just four seconds separated the two, with a winning time of 34:22.
It was never in doubt that Makaya Masumpa would win the masters race and indeed the Born 2 Run man did, beating off an old rival, Desmond Zibi of PE Achilles.
In the grandmasters race Themba Bhelwana of Oxford Striders in 47:53 was too fast for Mpumelelo Maci of BRAC and Charl Pienaar of Old Selbornians coming home in 49:34 and 50:51 respectively.
In the women’s race it was a tale of a big comeback for Born 2 Run star, Hanlie Botha, who last raced in February. The course is a baptism of fire and, added to that, the competition is always strong.
Botha led the race for the first seven kilometres.
Her friend and Born 2 Run clubmate, Stephanie Smith, is a much tougher racer than she was some time back and she kept Botha in her sights.
Another previous winner lying second until she overtook Botha at close to 8km, Ntombesintu Mfunzi of Nedbank, always looked ominous and, although she had to dig very deep to hold onto her lead over the last of the hills, she did just that to win in 37:48.
Botha’s comeback was pleasing, clocking 38:11. Smith was delighted, as her big smile suggested, with her 38:42. Given that the winning time in 2016 was 39:53, the women’s race offered a huge improvement.
Michelle Conroy of Born 2 Run won the veteran women’s category from Weziwe Dlvawa of Hlazo AC and Berenice Timothy, also of Born 2 Run.
Sharon Wood from Run Walk for Life was the first master, in ahead of Born 2 run’s Sherae Kreusch and Buyelwa Kobokana of Nedbank. The best junior was Nomzamo Bhelwana of Oxford Striders.
It must be said that finishing the race in the small grounds of the Children’s Centre, when a huge sports stadium stands empty next door, left many bewildered.
Club chairman, Alex Kambule was left wondering what his club of 35 years, and part of the fabric of the community, had done to deserve being barred from using the Siza Dukashe Stadium – a stadium that has been at the heart of sport for so many years.
“What can we do to reverse this?” he asked almost rhetorically.
If another hugely successful race cannot do it, what indeed can?
Pipped at the post when victory was so close
From the start gun two new visitors from Uitenhage, Andile Motwani and Zolani Nyonqo, in the colours of Tinharha AC went out in front, with Easy Equities Born 2 Run’s diminutive Lukhanyo Ngxoko pacing them stride for stride.
Not too far behind them was a pack of chasing runners that included the 2017 Two Oceans winner, Lungile Gongqa of Nedbank Western Province and Luthando Hejana of the host club.
The front three stayed together through halfway, but by the time the 8km mark had been reached Ngqaba had dropped off the pace and been replaced by Gongqa.
The second last of the many hills was a killer and it was at this stage that the man from Cape Town made his move. Motwani followed, but Ngxoko faltered slightly.
With 500m to go it looked like Gongqa would win but the younger man had speed to invest and a sprint finish saw him pip the more experienced man to win in 31:22, one second to the good and almost two minutes quicker than the winning time in 2016.
Ngxoko was third in 31:57, and a strong finishing Ngqaba fourth in 32:07.
Born 2 Run’s Siyabulela Madlavana was the first veteran home and ninth overall in a time of 34:14, ahead of Zingisile Marikeni of Nedbank in 35:32 with Zolile Mhlahlo from PE Achilles in 35:35. The junior men’s race was pleasingly a close tussle, albeit between two athletes well ahead of the field.
Capping a fine day for Tinharha AC, Xabiso Kobe headed off a strong finish from Born 2 Run’s Lithobe Menzeleli. Just four seconds separated the two, with a winning time of 34:22.
It was never in doubt that Makaya Masumpa would win the masters race and indeed the Born 2 Run man did, beating off an old rival, Desmond Zibi of PE Achilles.
In the grandmasters race Themba Bhelwana of Oxford Striders in 47:53 was too fast for Mpumelelo Maci of BRAC and Charl Pienaar of Old Selbornians coming home in 49:34 and 50:51 respectively.
In the women’s race it was a tale of a big comeback for Born 2 Run star, Hanlie Botha, who last raced in February. The course is a baptism of fire and, added to that, the competition is always strong.
Botha led the race for the first seven kilometres.
Her friend and Born 2 Run clubmate, Stephanie Smith, is a much tougher racer than she was some time back and she kept Botha in her sights.
Another previous winner lying second until she overtook Botha at close to 8km, Ntombesintu Mfunzi of Nedbank, always looked ominous and, although she had to dig very deep to hold onto her lead over the last of the hills, she did just that to win in 37:48.
Botha’s comeback was pleasing, clocking 38:11. Smith was delighted, as her big smile suggested, with her 38:42. Given that the winning time in 2016 was 39:53, the women’s race offered a huge improvement.
Michelle Conroy of Born 2 Run won the veteran women’s category from Weziwe Dlvawa of Hlazo AC and Berenice Timothy, also of Born 2 Run.
Sharon Wood from Run Walk for Life was the first master, in ahead of Born 2 run’s Sherae Kreusch and Buyelwa Kobokana of Nedbank. The best junior was Nomzamo Bhelwana of Oxford Striders.
It must be said that finishing the race in the small grounds of the Children’s Centre, when a huge sports stadium stands empty next door, left many bewildered.
Club chairman, Alex Kambule was left wondering what his club of 35 years, and part of the fabric of the community, had done to deserve being barred from using the Siza Dukashe Stadium – a stadium that has been at the heart of sport for so many years.
“What can we do to reverse this?” he asked almost rhetorically.
If another hugely successful race cannot do it, what indeed can?
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