Inaugural marathon gets off to an excellent start
Bella’s Athletics Club, the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency and Ehlanzeni District Municipality successfully hosted the inaugural 4-in-1 BarbertonMakhonjwa Mountain Marathon on Saturday October 22.
About 600 runners participated in the event, which included a 42km race, 21.1km, 10km, and fun run, all kick-starting at the Bulembu Border Post.
Athletes competed through the stunning Makhonjwa Mountains, a World Heritage Site, with its challenging downhills and high hills.
Eliud Kipsang Meli from Kenya turned up the heat to win the 42km in a time of 2:30:03, followed by Folavio Sehohle of Bella’s Athletics in a time of 2:32:22.
Professor Mthethwa of the City of Mbombela Marathon Club took the third spot with a time of 2:34:59.
The women’s 42km race winner, Helena Joubert, finished in 3:13:44, followed by Talitha Tsatsha in 3:36:00 and Seipati
Peo in third place with a time of 3:45:53.
Tebogo Pulusa won the 21km male category in 1:08:09, followed by Benedict Moeng in second place 1:09:44, and Donald Gito Machava in third place with a time of 1:10:46.
The female 21km was won by Zeferina Marinh Lucio in a time of 1:25:51, second was Christel Hanekom with a time of 1:47:11 and third was Juanet Whittaker with a time of 1:51:18.
Welcome Mayise finished first in the male 10km event in 30:11, followed by Hope Matshiya in second place in a time of 30:34, and Kgosi Thosane in third place 32:00.
Zanele Sehohle finished first in the female 10km race in 39:15, followed by Chantal Middel Bovee in 39:29, and Michelle Parkes in third place with a time of 39:54.