Tactical battle sets tone for bigger runs

THE Municipal Athletics Club in Buffalo City hosted their second halfmarathon on Sunday and attracted a sound field of around 400 eager runners in cool and windy conditions.

The route has never been an easy one as it embarks on a journey out from Jan Smuts Stadium and up Settlers Way. However, on the day, running into a westerly wind over the first half of the course made tactics all important in achieving a desired result.

The men’s race was a close affair, while the women’s field was less competitive and smaller in numbers than might have been expected.

Some athletes used the race as a warmup for the Masters Marathon on September 3, others are focusing on the Legends 68km and others still on the Legends 60:11 Half-Marathon on September 24.

Three men turned on the pace out front, with the diminutive Lukhanyo Ngxoko, back from a long-term injury, and his Born 2 Run stablemate, Masivuye Poswa running in tandem with Luthando Hejana of Real Gijimas.

A strong chasing pack included Born 2 Run’s Siyabulela Madlavana, Bulelani Mgubo of All Stars and Nkosinathi Nzingo of Nedbank.

As had been the case a number of times earlier in the year Ngxoko had the finishing speed and stamina, also using the following wind to great advantage, to lead the pack into the finish and record a sound time of 67:34. Hejana was second in 68:07, while Poswa showed good advancement of performance to take third in 69:33.

Madlavana was fourth and also the first veteran to finish in 71:09, while another runner who is back from injury, Mgubo, was fifth in 71:18.

Makaya Masumpa, the stalwart masters runner from Born 2 Run, was top of his class yet again, finishing 12th overall in 77:35, while exciting junior Lithobe Menzeleli, a new recruit to Born 2 Run, was the first in his category and 16th in the field with a time of 80:19.

Stephanie Smith made her first appearance in Born 2 Run colours since her Comrades Marathon gold medal performance. Simply testing her legs for bigger things to follow she surprised herself with a personal best 82:24 to win comfortably.

Second was Old Selbornian runner, Andrea Ranger in 90:13, followed by the long-serving Xoliswe Bici of Hlazo AC, Zandile Rubushe of Rainbow AC and Faith Buyana from BRAC.

The first veteran woman was an occasional runner to the podium, Weziwe Dlavana also of Hlazo AC, and Sharon Eldridge of Old Selbornians was the first master home.