LOSKOP DEADLINE LOOMING
THE organisation of this year’s Forever Resorts Loskop Marathon in Middelburg is well on track and time is running out for runners to enter.
Mpumalanga’s premier road running event will take place on April 22 but the closing date to enter is tomorrow.
The 31st edition of the 50km ultra-marathon forms part of the Forever Resorts Loskop Series, which also comprises the equally popular 21.1km Wild Challenge, so-called because the entire course of the half-marathon is in the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve.
The Loskop Marathon is among the favourite qualifying races for the Comrades Marathon. It is regularly voted the third best marathon in South Africa – behind the Comrades and the Two Oceans.
As per tradition, rain or shine, the 50km race will start at 6am at the Middelburg civic centre and end at the Loskop Dam.
Last year, both the men’s and women’s races were scooped by SA runners.
Charles Tjiane took the men’s in 2:47:34, setting a new veterans record in the process. The old mark of 2:47:53 was set by Elias Mabane in 2011.
Tjiane was followed home by Charles Soza (2:51:57) of Zimbabwe and Raymond Phaladi (2:52:27).
Yolande Maclean took the women’s marathon title in 3:31:01, but not before 2013 and 2015 champion Jennifer Koech from Kenya mounted a serious attack before eventually falling back to fifth spot.
Ezbe Strydom from Bloemfontein finished second in 3:34:35 while third place went to Julanie Basson (3:35:41).
Athletes can either enter online at www.loskopmarathon.co.za or submit entry forms directly to the race office. Contact (013) 2432683 or 064-771-5967 for further information.