Welcome mat out for racers
Numbers expected to escalate as marathon adds popular dimension
The introduction of the 42.2km race in the Elliot Madeira Charity Club Marathon is expected to spike the numbers of athletes who attend the annual running spectacle in Mthatha scheduled to take place on Sunday.
The starting point of the new 42.2km race will be at Bumbane Great Place, and will finish at Walter Sisulu University’s sport grounds. Temba Mtshabe, chairman of Elliot Madeira Charity Club and the organiser, were hoping their numbers would jump to 2,000 athletes.
He said the 21km race will start in New Town and will also wrap up at WSU sports grounds, while the 10km race will begin at Qweqwe on the N2 and also finish at WSU.
“Last year we had 1,280 athletes in the race, even though we had the 21km race only, and this year we introducing 42.2km and they are qualifying races.
“I have been getting calls from Lesotho, Kenya. Two athletes from Kenya and three athletes from Lesotho and other international athletes are already in the country and have registered for the race.
“And that includes our local high-profile runner like Xolisa Tyali, who runs for Nedbank Club. He’s born and bred in the province and has also confirmed his attendance.
“The preparations are well under way and the venue is ready. We are just finishing on the touchups,” Mtshabe told the Dispatch.
He said the race would see the return of decorated long-distance runner Lusapho April, who recently took part in the prestigious Boston Marathon during the northern hemisphere spring roadrunning season.
“April will also be here and we are expecting tough competition because there are many more athletes that have confirmed their attendance. And what I like is that we’ll have other local guys who’ve competed nationally, like including those who’ve done Comrades Marathon.
“We have clubs like Cheetahs Athletics Club, Border in East London, and the preparations are going quite well.
“We have top government officials whom we’re expecting