Cramps stymie Mfunzi’s podium hopes

THE dreaded cramps ended local road-running star Ntombesinthu Mfunzi’s chance of a podium finish in the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town on Saturday.

“It was a very tough field, but I stuck to my game plan,” a disappointed Mfunzi said.

“At the 42km mark, I clocked 2:51 and was well-placed to challenge the front-runners.

“But two kilometres later my race all but ended when I started cramping. From then on it was a matter of survival.”

Clearly in pain, she struggled to the finish line and was passed by Selam Abere Alebachem to lose ninth place by a mere three seconds. She finished in 3:59:26 to claim the final gold medal.

“I am disappointed after all the hard work I put in, but I am happy with my 10th place,” Mfunzi said.

This was her fourth top-10 finish, with the fifth place last year her best.

Gerda Steyn was an easy winner of the women’s category in 3:39:31, while Kenyan runner Justin Kemboi (Nedbank RC International) won the men’s section in a time of 3:09:21.

TINKY Hodgson completed the double hundred at the weekly Hobie Beach parkrun on Saturday.

The 50-year-old Walmer mother completed her 100th run and volunteered for the 100th time.

More than 1 500 runners took part in the various runs across the metro this weekend.

Top finishers: Hobie Beach: men - Robert Honniball 20:22, women - Holly Wigington 26:52. Sardinia Bay: men - Steven Howard 22:28, women - Karen Davies 23:48. Lady Slipper: Ronald Reeves 26:41, Adri Wessels 27:52. Jeffreys Bay: Reinard Ganzevoort 18:10, Linmarie van Wyk 22:4.