Border-kei Two Oceans results fall short of previous years

The racing lacked some spark in the absence of Border’s top female ultra runners

Running in the same race as Gerda Steyn offers a superb lift for athletes, and women in particular, even if she is only seen at the prize-giving, such is the speed at which she runs.

Over 56km, Steyn is purely phenomenal, as she proved again on Saturday.

This was Steyn’s fifth consecutive win at Cape Town’s flagship ultra marathon, something no other athlete has ever achieved, and she comfortably beat her own race record of 3:29:06 as she sped to the finish at the UCT rugby grounds in 3:26:54.

She was in the colours of the innovative Phantane running club.

The new men’s winner was Onalenna Khonkhobe, who won in 3:09:30 and is the first South African to do so in five years.

The Border-kei results were nowhere near the heights of years past in the men’s and women’s races, and over the ultra- and half-marathon distances.

Over the years, numerous athletes have brought home gold medals and several more, the much sought-after silver medal for a sub-four-hour performance.

On this occasion, there were only two silver medal performances, which will have those who appreciate the sport scratching their heads as they consider remedial action.

Xolisa Ntombini, of Chillie Runners, was the first Border runner home in 3:43:37.

He was the fourth local man home at the Comrades in 2023 too and is proving to be one of the province’s top and everimproving ultra-marathon runners.

While running for SABC AC, he ran four Two Oceans ultras between 2016 and 2019, recording times of 4:38:08, 4:17:50, 4:13:12 and 4:10:30 respectively.

This was his first Two Oceans since then, taking an impressive 26:23 off his best.

The only other silver medal achieved to emerge so far was run by Mnonopheli Zunguzane of Original Mambas Athletic Club.

Running in the 40-plus category, he recorded a sound 3:50: 57.

His only other Two Oceans 56km was back in 2010 when he recorded a 4:31:55.

That means a new personal best by a huge 40:58. He also finished 23rd in the heavily populated veterans category.

Ngoako Ramakgapola, of ISMO, finished fourth in the 60plus men’s division with an excellent time of 4:47:37.

The racing lacked some spark in the absence of Border’s top female ultra runners.

A notable absentee after many fine races was Chillie Runner’s Siviwe Nomapelana, who is out injured.

None of the women’s contingent broke five hours in 2024 and it was left to 60-plus category runner Sharon Bosch, of Old Selbornians, who finished 10th in her age category, with a 5:23:19 to show them the way.

Zuki Sam, of Mercedes-benz, was next in, running 5:23:42 in the veteran’s section of 40plus.

Karen Albertyn, of Oxford Striders, recorded a 5:27:02.

In the half marathon, there were some reasonable performances, but perhaps the standout one was that of Beanie Beard in the 70-plus race, finishing 10th in a field of 50 with a time of 2:34:35.

That field contained luminaries, the likes of Margie Saunders, Chloe Glover, Pixie Sparg and Border’s Paula Richardson, who is 10 years their senior.