Just no stopping the fleet-footed Mokwani

In cool conditions the racing at the tough XPE 15km road race in a hilly Mdantsane was impressive for this time of year.

The holiday mood that is taking hold of society at large, kept some local runners away, but also encouraged many others, and quality runners at that, to pay a visit to the Real Gijimas organised event.

The usual early “bus” of men went out front, but with the hills a sure leveller to race performance the field quickly settled down, and Tinarha AC’s Andile Mokwani stamped his authority on the race, one which he would go on to win comfortably in 48:46.

Zwelonke AC’s Yanga Malusi surprised many a runner with an impressive performance when finishing second in 49:22, some 34 seconds ahead of Olympian, Lusapho April of Oxford Striders, who was making a comeback run after a lengthy layoff. Mariano Eesou, running for Bestmed Madibaz, Port Elizabeth was fourth in 50:21, while Hammasdale’s Anele Dlamini finished fifth in 50:52. He was also the second sub-vet behind April.

The first veteran runner was Nedbank Port Elizabeth’s Anele Maliza, who was just 12 seconds ahead of Easy Equities Born 2 Run’s Siyabulela Madlavana in 54:59.

The juniors race was encouraging, with Okuhle Twalani of Adventist AC winning impressively in a sound 53:16, followed by new Border club, Inyibiba AC’s Benathi Mgquba second in 54:28. Rainbow’s Khanya Yale finished third.

Makaya Masumpa of Born 2 Run was comfortably the first master home in 57:15, followed by Kenny Swartz of Oxford Striders in 61:57 and Nkosana Mpolweni of Gijimas in 68:18.

Charl Pienaar of Old Selbornians took the grandmasters race in 72:15.

In the women’s race, Port Elizabeth’s Ntombesintu Mfunzi, running for Nedbank, won in 60:07, while behind her a tussle between three team members on Born 2 Run unfolded.

Cindy Schwulst, her sister Tara and Andrea Ranger raced off together in the early stages. After the settling in first couple of kilometres, Cindy opened a meaningful gap, while the other two looked likely to repeat their Xerox 10km race in November. Tara then broke away and chased her sister, catching her with approximately 3km to go. The sisters stayed together with Ranger all the while stalking and maintaining a manageable gap.

With a mere few hundred metres remaining, the 19-yearold Tara broke free to finish second in 63:33, almost certainly an age group record for the course. Cindy was third, just six seconds adrift, while Ranger was fourth, the same position as 2017, but an impressive 80 seconds faster.

The first veteran home was Monica Lahle of Mdantsane AC, while Run Walk for Life’s Sharon Wood took the master’s race and Michelle Whittington of Old Selbornians the grandmaster’s.

In the junior women’s race Natasha Magaga of Motherwell finished second to Schwulst in a time of 86:20.