Dynamo sets a clean pair of heels

THE second running of the Bridle Drift Dam Half-Marathon, branded locally as the “toughest in the land” got off to an unusually cool start on what would turn out to be a pretty steamy day.

A perusal of the results when compared with those of last year’s would suggest that knowing what they were going to encounter over the tough 21.1km worked in the athletes’ favour, for most ran faster times. The cooler conditions would have been another factor in their favour.

Born 2 Run’s little dynamo, Lukanyo Ngxoko, started circumspectly, but it was not long and he was out chasing Luthando Hejana, Real Gijimas’ top athlete.

As the race progressed it became clear that Ngxoko was in for a comfortable win. That was until a traffic vehicle leading the race took the Dutywa resident off course. Hejana, being a local, knew the route and did not make the same mistake. At the conclusion the referees conferred with the organisers and Ngxoko was awarded the race with an amended time of 70:42.

It was Ngxoko’s second win in as many outings.

Hejana was second in 71:49 with Xolile Ndabeni of Nedbank third and Bulelani Mgubo of All Stars fourth in 73:18 and 73:44 respectively.

The women’s race was a much more clearcut result, with Stephanie Smith of Born 2 Run showing fine early season form after her year’s break from competition. She ran nearly 10 minutes faster than last year, recording 87:40.

In second place was Motherwell AC star runner Siphokazi Nojoko in 93:46, also a good improvement on 2016, by 5:26.

Andrea Ranger was third with a time of 94:24, five plus minutes better than 2016.

The veteran races went to Mluleki Nobanda of Mthatha and Carol Tinhof from Old Selbornians. Masters as is the norm fell to Makaya Masumpa and Sherae Kreush, both of Born 2 Run, while the grandmasters had Charl Pienaar (Old Selbornians) and Karima Kitsopoulos of Born 2 Run to the fore.

Top juniors were Sinawo Kani in the boys and Siphokazi Liwani in the girls both promising athletes from Motherwell.