Frans, Mfunzi want Two Oceans gold

BOTH the male and female Eastern Province athletes of the year will be going for gold when they join hundreds of Port Elizabeth runners at the Two Oceans in Cape Town on Saturday.

Melikhaya Frans, who set a national 30km record at the Human Race in Uitenhage last month, has entered the 21km race while Ntombesintu Mfunzi will be competing in the 56km ultra.

“We set our sights on winning the race,” EP Athletics sponsor liaison officer Michael Mbambani, who coaches Frans, said.

“Melikhaya’s preparations for the race have gone extremely well,” Mbambani said.

“After breaking the national record he won the Sportsmans Warehouse 15km and clocked 29:39 in the Correctional Services 10km last week. “He is ready as he will ever be.” A row erupted after Frans set the national record with runner-up Lusapho April’s camp claiming he has never been tested. Frans dismissed the claims saying he had been tested twice – in 2011 and 2014.

Meanwhile, Mfunzi will be hoping it will be third time lucky in the ultra. She was a gold medalist twice, finishing eighth each time. “I hope to do a lot better this time around,” Mfunzi said.

She also won the women’s category in the 30km Human race and wound up her preparation with an excellent 35:58.

The Nedbank athlete will be accompanied by 70 runners who are aiming to win the team prize in the men’s category.

The sports editor of Grocotts Mail in Grahamstown, Stephen Penney, will be competing in his 25th consecutive Two Oceans.

He has not missed a race since he started as an 18 year old and holds the record for youngest person to complete 20 ultras.

He will be accompanied by his wife, leading Eastern Province athlete, Terri-Lynn, who will be competing in her 13th race.