Bosman foils bid by Mfunzi for double

Charne Bosman dashed Ntombesintu Mfunzi’s hopes of completing the double at the Clover 15km race in Jeffreys Bay on Saturday.

The 2016 Comrades champion and the defending champion raced neck-and-neck until the 5km mark, when Bosman made her move.

It was at this point in 2018 that Mfunzi broke away to go on and win.

This time, however, she was prepared to sit back and let Bosman go.

“My coach told me to go out there and enjoy myself as I was still on high mileage [training],” Mfunzi said.

“After being the first Eastern Cape athlete in the Heroes Marathon in Mthatha in December, the provincial government offered me an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the Hanover Marathon during the first week of April.

“This means I will have to miss Two Oceans, but I will be tackling the Comrades.

“I will also be competing in the Soweto Marathon later this year for the first time.

“This is going to be a very exciting year and I have to focus on my marathon training and not entering every event (to win).” Melikhaya Frans (Ikhamva) continued from where he left off last year to win the men’s race for the fifth successive year, finishing in 46:44, more than a minute ahead of Andile Motwana (Tinarha), with Andre Ketchem (X-Cel) third.

Frans virtually led from start to finish with Motwana hanging on until the 4km mark.

“The first 5km was an easy downhill run but the return leg was tough,” Frans said.