Mdantsane race gains in prestige
Motwani wins for the second successive year as participants increase
The 2018 Mdantsane Kasi 10km road race realised a superb year-on-year increase of 35% in the number of participants, at the 12th annual running of the event.
Those are the numbers that sponsors are eager to support and whilst the racing upfront was pretty much similar to the previous year, it would have been the new faces that will enthuse followers of the sport.
Andile Motwani of Tinarha AC won the race for the second year in succession, nine seconds faster than before with a time of 31:13. Course knowledge certainly played a role given that the second and third runners had not previously run the mighty hills on offer.
Zuko Khupiso turned out for his new club Easy Equities Born 2 Run for the first time and impressed with a well-judged race to finish second in 31:49.
Yanqa Malusi of Zwelonke went out hard and gave it his all, tiring slightly towards the end on a largely uphill finish. He finished third in 32:09.
The Tinarha athletes are certainly consistent with Zolani Ngqaqa finishing fourth for the second year running though his 32:30 was 17 seconds faster than last year.
Luthando Hejana of the host club, Real Gijimas finished fifth in 32:41, just two seconds off last year's time, but one position to the good.
Bulelani Mgubo of All Stars was the first sub-veteran in and sixth overall in 33:11.
The first veteran runner home was Siyabulela Madlavana of Born 2 Run in 34:45 and the first master Desmond Zibi of Achilles in Port Elizabeth. His time was 35:23.
The best junior on display was Okuhle Twalana of Adventist AC who won comfortably in 34:31, some 3:07 ahead of the next junior.
The first grandmaster was Themba Bhelwana of Oxford Striders in 45:50.
Stephanie Smith of Born 2 Run showed she is making progress on the comeback trail, winning the women’s race in great fashion.
Smith finished in 39:50, which although slower than 2017, will have given her a real boost in her quest to win a major marathon before the turn of the year.
Smith said after the race: "I always enjoy running in Mdantsane, but, wow, those hills don't get easier. I am very happy with my win and thank Real Gijimas for all they do."
In second place was another visitor from Uitenhage, Ndleka Mavakwendlu of Tinarha AC, in 41:17
Some distance off and the first veteran home was Sherelle Smith of Oxford Striders. Her time was 48:35 which in turn was four minutes ahead of her clubmate and first sub-veteran, Charlene Collins.
Sharon Wood of Run Walk for Life was first master home in 49:59 and Old Selbornian's Beanie Beard took the grandmasters in 58:15.
Motherwell's Natasha Magaga was the pick of the juniors with a run of 50:16.