Surprise entrant Essou top again

WHILE all the EPA team athletes for the national 10km championships in Mbombela opted out of the race, Mariano Essou was a surprise entrant in the Kirkwood Orchard 10km race on Saturday.

The Bestmed Madibaz athlete, who won the White Cane Challenge from the Lighthouse at Port Elizabeth’s Boardwalk complex last week in 30:32, again finished at the head of the pack in the 10km run, this time in 31:45.

EP Schools runner Nalize van Straaten was the first woman home, in a slow 46:47.

In the half-marathon, Nedbank AC completed a double by claiming the men’s and women’s categories.

Former Two Oceans winner George Ntshiliza was the overall winner, beating Xolisa Ndlumbini (Vukani) by more than three minutes in the half-marathon.

The women’s race was closer, with Theresa Buchner beating Ludine Williams (St Albans) by 21 seconds.

Results:

21.1km Men: George Ntshiliza (Nedbank) 1:10:52, Xolisa Ndlumbini (Vukani) 1:13:59, Lubabalo Jusayi (Motherwell) 1:14:53. Women: Theresa Buchner (Nedbank) 1:43:26, Ludine Williams (St Albans) 1:43:57, Lilly Janse van Rensburg (Despatch) 1:44:07. 10km Senior men: Mariano Essau (Bestmed Madibaz) 31:45, Andre Ketchem (X-Cel) 31:59, Vuyolwethu Selana (SAPS EC) 32:43. Senior women: Nalize van Straaten (EP Schools) 46:47, Neevra Bellingham (Temp) 50:28, Fiona Fleur (Temp) (52:39). Junior men: Anele Voorman (Nedbank) 35:36, Sipho Scout (SAPS EC) 36:07, Vincent-Louis Engelbrecht (Temp) 38:26. Junior women: Nalize van Straaten (EP Schools) 46:47, Anchen Coetzer (Temp) 55:13, Anica Steyn (Temp) 1:22:21. ý FIVE of the top eight finishers in the four weekly parkruns in and around the Nelson Mandela Bay metro on Saturday recorded personal best times.

Leading the pack was Amos Nyongo, who came home first in the Hobie Beach parkrun for the second consecutive week. He finished in 14:34.

At the Sardinia Bay parkrun, three of the top finishers were unregistered runners.

Results:

Hobie Beach First man: Amos Nyongo 14:34 (PB). First woman: Tara Sacke 21:05. Sardinia Bay First man: Unregistered First woman: Robyn Bird 29:35 (PB) Lady Slipper First man: Ronald Reeves 24:59 (PB). First woman: Judith Dech 30:25 (PB) Jeffreys Bay First man: Gideon Williams 17:00 (PB) First woman: Anne de Villiers 23:14 PB.