Matt Duggan takes 100-miler
Endurance epic brings out the best in Kenton
Atotal of 27 hours and 45 minutes after their start at midnight on Friday April 19, an ecstatic but exhausted Matt Duggan crossed the finish line at around 4am on Sunday to win the Kenton 100.
Just 18 minutes behind him (28 hours and three minutes) was the record-holder for the event, Cornel Metcalfe. Dane Sweet was third in 28:44.
The fifth edition of the Kenton 100 saw eight brave runners take on the gruelling160km ultra-endurance challenge.
A further six set their alarms in time for a Saturday 4am start for the 30miler (48,28km). Rising star Butshabethu Kayi pipped mentor and respected local runner VuyisaniNobi to the post, setting a new record with his 4:43 win.
Kenton 100 co-founder Mark Crandon was third in the 30-miler, followed by Judy Gerber, the only woman in that event.
“It was good, but it was tough,” said Kayi, who burst onto the scene last year winning the 10-miler in a blistering pace. What’s next? TOTT asked.
“Next year I’m going to beat my own record,” Kayi said, setting his sights on a sub-four hour finish.
A large field showed up for the 10mile event on Sunday morning, adding to the excitement while the last of the 100-milers made their way to the finish.
Having recovered from the day before, Nobi and Kayi were on hand to encourage Sunday’s 10-mile starters and remaining 100-mile finishers.
Kowie Striders runner Sizakele Dayimani (Port Alfred) completed the 16km loop in 1:02. Siyamthanda Kalashe (15, from Kenton) and Gavin Marriott, both hot on his heels, completed the course in 1:07.
The first woman home in the 10miler was Nicole Jordan, from Boknes, in 1:27, with Justine Lockin second and
Nosi Mtoti third.
Tobie Reynecke enjoyed his 100 miler, saying it was “absolutely brilliant ”.
“It’s a beautiful place and the beach is lovely at night, and you know you’re in the right place,” Reynecke said.
Margo de Kooker said her run was “awesome”.
“The gees from everybody — the spirit among the runners and the supporters —was amazing.
“It’s a beautifully marked course — just brilliant.”
The toughest leg of the 100 miler is from midnight on Saturday to 4am on Sunday.
That’s the time that companions Melanie Forlee and Shannon Smit
accompanied De Kooker for two loops.
“When someone’s been running for 24 hours, they really are not completely with it,” Smit said.
“So it helps to have someone with them.”
Metcalfe, who came second in the 100-miler, had a good run.
She did the first Kenton 100 in 2020 and the Potchefstroom athlete still holds the overall record for men and women (23:58:51).
“There have been a few changes to the route since then, and it was quite different to come back,” she told Talk of the Town.
How do you train for a race like this?
“You start off by going out in the
afternoons and doing about a 10 (km) run.”
Gym and other cross-training are also very important for ultra-endurance athletes.
“Upper body strength really does help,” Metcalfe said. “And with your running, it helps to run on different kinds of terrain, including the beach.”
At home, Metcalfe and others in the local running community train a lot on farm roads.
“There are plenty of ups and downs there!”
Of course, mental strength plays a huge part in getting through a race like this.
How did she and her fellow runners resist just lying down and falling asleep when it got dark?
“I don’t think there’s anyone who’s been through something like this and can say they didn’t want to just stop and lie down, or at least just close their eyes for a bit,” she said.
“I normally drink a few cups of coffee when I see someone, I just ask them for a cup of coffee strong black coffee.
“And then luckily we weren’t alone: I had Matt [Duggan] with me last night. And you know, you chat. But even if you don’t chat, you’re just not on your
own. Because the moment you’re on your own, and it’s dark, and it’s quiet, very quickly you can fall asleep.
Organiser Shona Bell said that from their perspective, the entire three-day event had gone “brilliantly”.
“Plus we got great feedback from the participants.
“We’ve figured out how to do it now we’ve got the flow and if we got double the number of athletes entering, it would be fine,” Bell said.
Kenton did what it does best: “The town came out, the people came out and got involved.”
The organisers are considering a request to add another event to next year’s edition 60 miles plus 4, which will be 100km
Jo Wilmot, consultant for Kenton & Boesmansrivier Business and Tourism, said the name of the town’sNSRI boat, The Spirit of Kenton, summed it up.
Businesses, private individuals and schools had provided water stations all along the 16km loop.
“[Event organiser] Shona Bell put it out on all the local community platforms, encouraging everyone to participate and boy, did they!” said Wilmot. “It’s an awesome event, but our community makes it even more awesome.”