Sigxashe, Magson defend Ultra titles
IN a race to the tape, Eric Sigxashe successfully defended his title at the 34th mall:e Bay Ultra which started and ended at Pollok Beach on Saturday.
The Motherwell AC athlete finished in 3:09:16, just 16 seconds ahead of another long-distance veteran, Mzwanele Maphekula.
Masande Mlonyeni finished third more than five minutes later.
“I did not push myself but made certain I stayed ahead of the pack,” an elated Sigxashe said. He has four Comrades and 12 Two Oceans under his belt.
“I was determined to defend my title.”
Maphekula said a poor start had cost him the race.
“I started too slowly and in the end the gap was to much,” he said. “But I am not too unhappy. “The course was good and the race was good preparation for the Two Oceans and Comrades, which I will be running.”
Maphekula has completed 12 Oceans and five Comrades.
His best in the Comrades was an 5:45 finish which saw him placed 15th.
In the women’s category, Davera Magson won at a canter, finishing more than half an hour ahead of Tracy Campbell.
She was the defending champion.
The veteran of 10 Oceans and nine Comrades will be hoping it will be fourth time lucky when she tackles her 10th Comrades this year. She has finished 11th on three occasions, just missing out on a gold medal each time.
Her best finish in the Oceans was eighth.
With more than 400 entries this year, organisers were thrilled with the turnout.
“This year we were thrilled to announce mall:e as the new sponsor and it seems to have brought a new energy to the event,” chairman of organising club Body Concept, Mark Huppleschoten, said.
“mall:e is a new smartphone app in the form of a virtual mall, containing a variety of retail stores, food outlets and value added services that deliver their products to use at a touch of the screen.
“The wind and the weather played their part but there are a few areas we still need to improve on.
“Hopefully next year it will be bigger and better.”
The results were: 50km Ultra Men: 1 Eric Sigxashe (Motherwell) 3:09:16, 2 Mzwanele Maphekula (Bluewater Bay) 3:09:39, 3 Masande Mloyeni (Charlo) 3:15:33. Women: 1 Davera Magson (Nedbank) 3:55:31, 2 Tracey Campbell (Temp) 4:30:40, 3 Arinda Swart (Madibaz), 4:41:44. 10km Men: 1 Mariano Eesou (Madibaz) 30:52, 2 Zolani Ngqaqa (Tinarha) 31:49, 3 Amos Nyongo (Ikhamva) 32:06. Women: 1 Ndileka Mvakwendlu (Tinarha) 38:51, 2 Siphokazi Njoko (Motherwell) 42:43, 3 Zandile Rubushe (Temp) 43:12. Junior men: 1 Hanno Engelbrecht (Run 4 Christ) 43:51, 2 Rhyno Smith (Goudveld) 46:27. Junior women: 1 Siphokazi Liwani (Motherwell) 44:53.