Top field vie for Diesel Depot win
THE Mazars 15km Diesel Depot footrace has developed over a period of more than 20 years into a much-loved outing in the local community.
Whereas when the Hamiltons Club launched the first race, it was probably viewed as something of a novelty, given that the build-up centred around the one monster aspect of a fairly long climb from Dorchester Heights to the top of Western Avenue, it has today become a serious race that top athletes target to win.
Down the years, the winners’ list has looked like a who’s who in road-running circles, with luminaries such as the late Mzwandile Shube, Willie Mankayi, Mluleki Nobanda, Moses Fokazi, Monde Tutani, Bassie Mbenya and Mluleki Nobanda all gracing the men’s race with their fine and highly competitive running.
Last year there were glimpses of those early years, when in the men’s race, a diminutive newcomer to the local stage, Lukhanyo Ngxoko won a nail biter from Luthando Hejana. At that stage, they were in the same club colours, though this year Hejana will be flying in the maroon and white of Real Gijimas. Born 2 Run’s Ngxoko, on the other hand, may not be in the field at all due to an injury. The winning time last year was 48:14 and runners will be hard-pressed today to beat that. Third and fourth positions were virtually reduced to alsorans with times of around 49:20.
Other than Hejana, All Stars runner Bulelani Mgubo, Old Selbornians’s Malixole Kalideni and Born 2 Runs’ Masivuye Poswa are all likely to be prominent.
A look down memory lane at the women’s race delivers a vision of two athletes in particular dominating proceedings.
Lizanne Holmes who ran out of both Oxford Striders and Old Selbornians during her time in East London, set the tone in the early years, while one of the leaders in introducing Born 2 Run to the province, Hanlie Botha, has been unbeatable whenever she has run the race in the latter history.
Last year’s race was a case in point with a runaway victory for Botha. She will, unfortunately, not be running this year, as she is in a rebuilding phase of her training.
Speaking to Botha yesterday, it sounds as though she intends to come back stronger and faster than before. Border running certainly needs her at the helm.
Botha’s absence might have offered an opportunity for Two Oceans gold medallist, Stephanie Smith, to claim a victory.
However, she would first have had to get the better of her Born 2 Run clubmate, Cindy Schwulst, who won the Kempston Women’s Race in a one-on-one duel with her in March. As it happens, Smith is on her way to the Prague Marathon, a race she will be using as a training outing for Comrades 2017. By process of elimination that would leave a betting person to lay odds on a Schwulst victory.
A top and pro triathlete, she has been in great form, both at her chosen discipline – and on the road. So while all the focus of the Diesel Depot is one section of hill of about 400m in length, the race in its entirety, actually enjoys an overall drop in altitude of 12m.
The start has always been very fast and athletes have won and lost the race in the first half.
The middle section from nine to 12km is testing, while the 3km to the finish is again very fast and many an athlete has powered to victory on this section, having been circumspect up the hills.
The Hamilton Club in Selborne is where all the action takes place and all the history has been realised.