Masumpa master of his craft again
MAKAYA Masumpa once again offered a commanding performance on the roads of South Africa when he captured a gold medal at the SA HalfMarathon Championships in Port Elizabeth at the weekend.
This latest performance added to the one he delivered at Two Oceans over the same half-marathon distance back in April, where he also won the gold medal against the continent’s top athletes.
On this occasion Masumpa’s time of 73:02 was a massive 4:40 quicker, albeit it on a significantly faster course. It will be interesting to see what he does at the legends 60:11 Half-Marathon in September.
In winning the masters category Masumpa had to endure a sprint finish with Athletics Gauteng North flyer, Reginald Ngobese, beating him by just one second. The third runner, Nel Mtsweni of Mpumalanga was two minutes 19 seconds adrift of Masumpa.
The Border Half-Marathon team that took part at the championships on a fast Port Elizabeth seafront route gave a reasonable account of themselves and returned home with both Masumpa’s gold and a silver through the efforts of Siyabulela Madlavana in the veteran’s race.
Madlavana ran an impressive 67:45 in finishing second to Central Gauteng’s Simon Mpholo. Eastern Province runner Mzwanele Maphekula was third.
In the senior men’s race Luthando Hejana and Masivuye Poswa finished in times of 67:19 and 68:38 respectively.
Both the men’s and women’s teams were hit by withdrawals due to injury and illness. In the case of the men, Lusapho April and Lukhanyo Nqoko, arguably the province’s top two men, were both missing.
The women’s team was hit by the non-availability of Hanlie Botha, Cindy Schwulst and Caryn Lategan. In the end it was left to veteran runner, Michelle Conroy on her first ever outing at a national championship, to carry the Border flag.
Under those circumstances she did well, running a sound time of 97:44 and finishing in the top 10 in a veteran’s race with a highly competitive field.
Border have what it takes to compete favourably at this level and with long-term planning more medals are certainly possible.
The 60:11 is billed as SA’s fastest half-marathon course and on September 24, these and other athletes will perhaps prove that theory. Comrades runners not considered for the SA Champs due to the close proximity of the two races, and who are looking to improve their speed at shorter events, will also be back in the fray, adding to the competition on the EL Esplanade.