Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Race plan works for Calitz and Rukadza
Top South African trail athletes, AJ Calitz and Nicolette Griffioen, teamed up in last year’s AfricanX Three Day Trailrun to win the “mixed doubles” category. Yesterday in Stage One of the 10th Anniversary of the AfricanX Teamrun, they split into the more competitive men’s and women’s team challenges with equally satisfactory results.
Three hundred teams competed over a challenging 33km first leg in ideal running conditions and were treated to some of the most spectacular mountain landscapes in the country.
Calitz reunited with his old partner Bernard Rukadza in the K-Way Wintergreen team and they held off fast-finishing Gauteng pair of Thabang Madiba and Lucky Miya to win the stage by a whisker in 2 hrs 45 min 44 sec, while Johannesburg final-year veterinary student, Griffioen, teamed up with KZN’s Carla van Huysteen to edge trail veterans Chantel Nienaber and Katya Soggot by just 48 seconds in 3:25:31.
“The stage was awesome,” said a very happy Rukadza . “Our plan was to sit with the guys until the top of a big hill and then make our move. That is what we did. This is the third time AJ and I have teamed up for AfricanX. He’s a great guy. We understand each other and learn a lot from each other. I really enjoy running with him.”
Calitz was equally enthusiastic. “The game plan was always to keep up with Bernie,” laughed Calitz.
“Everything went according to plan. We didn’t plan to win the stage though. I’ve always said the winners of Stage One never win the race. I hope I’m wrong this time round! We took it relatively easy today, so we’re happy going into Stage Two. It’s great to be back in the mix again in the men’s race.”
Van Huyssteen had a tough day, battling nausea from the start, but remained positive ahead of today’s stage over a similar distance. “Stage One was a nice, technical trail run. I just didn’t have the climbing legs. I am ready to fight another day though.”
Her partner, Griffioen, had fewer challenges. “I thoroughly enjoyed today’s stage. “There was more single track than in previous years. Unfortunately Carla didn’t feel well. We just kept pushing and hoped that we could hold onto the lead. We’ll see what things hold for Team Key Health Neverest!”
Surprisingly it was Cape Town University students Timothy Chambers and Jonathan Black, running for Old Mutual Wealth, who challenged Calitz and Rukadza in the first half, keeping contact with the trail legends until the start of the longest climb after 15km.
They dropped off the pace, eventually finishing fourth, two minutes behind the Edunova pair of Ben Matiso and Retshipile Khotla.
The mixed team race was won by Team Crumb’s Daneil Feldmann and David del Fante in a time of 3:40.40, ahead of Gauteng Diesel Engines’ Takalani and Mazu Ndandani.
Today’s 34km leg gets underway from race headquarters at Boschendal Wine Estate at 08h00.