Van Zyl rips Soweto field apart
SUPERB: VAN ZYL THREE-AND-A-HALF MINUTES CLEAR
Though she admitted it felt somewhat like a missed opportunity, local favourite Irvette van Zyl was clearly delighted after delivering a spectacular performance yesterday, coasting to a convincing victory in the women’s race at the Soweto Marathon.
Competing in her first 42km race since she gave birth to her second child in June, Van Zyl pushed the pace hard from the start and her relentless charge on the undulating course was enough to shake off the rest of the elite women’s field in the second half of the high-altitude contest.
Crossing the line in 2:33:43, she shattered the race record and finished well clear of seven-time winner Mamorallo Tjoka of Lesotho who took second place in 2:37:12.
Van Zyl had made a late attempt to secure a place in next month’s Valencia Marathon field, in search of a fast time on the flatter course at sea level.
With no more spots available in the elite field in Valencia, however, and with limited time to prepare for a 42km race, Van Zyl was satisfied to have won her only marathon of the year on home soil.
“I couldn’t push it too fast or too hard (in training) because I’ve just had a baby,” Van Zyl said.
“I wanted to run a fast marathon, but at this stage I felt I wasn’t quick enough.
“After the race, seeing the time, I realised I might have been able to run faster at sea level.”
Meanwhile, Ethiopian athlete Sintayehu Legese Yinesu broke clear in the latter stages of the men’s contest to secure his fourth victory at the annual race in 2:19:10.
Legese, who returned to the top of the podium after settling for the runner-up spot last year, was a little more than a minute clear of Lesotho’s Lebenya Nkoka, who finished second in 2:20:31.
Edward Mothibi was the first South African man home in a race dominated by a strong international contingent, grabbing sixth place overall in 2:24:10.