Going like the wind for legend’s sake
THE Trevor Gee 10km organised by East London Athletic Club on a new aesthetically pleasing course from Beacon Bay, through Nahoon Valley Park, Abbotsford and Dorchester Heights produced good times, great racing and many a personal best, run as it was in ideal conditions.
Luthando Hejana and Hanlie Botha, both in the colours of Born 2 Run, took the men and women’s honours in 32:05 and 36:26 respectively.
Hejana’s margin was much closer than that of Botha as he was chased all the way by All Stars’ Bulelani Mgubo, who finished second in 32:23.
The main talking point, however, should be focused on the third-placed male, Malusi Yanga, who runs for a club called Mizziles. Yanga is a junior and won both that category and came third in the senior race in 33:08.
Xolani Ganca of BAC came in fourth, taking the 35+ sub-veteran title. Second in the age category was Chumisa Nkanjeni of Buffs.
Andrea Ranger of Old Selbornians took second in the women’s event in 41:45, while Born 2 Run’s Caryn Lategan, on the comeback trail, finished third and her clubmate Jaime Griffiths was fourth.
In other age group duels the first junior woman was Real Gijimas youngster, Lowewthu Bonhongo, while second to Yanga in the men’s was host club, East London Athletics’ Edward Schemel.
Botha and Lategan were the first two runners in the women’s 35+, while Born 2 Run’s Lynda Saunders in 55:09 and Annamarie Acton, 55:35, finished first and second in the 40+ veteran event.
In the men’s equivalent, Mzwanele Mbedlanyana of Nedbank and Xolile Maschicila of Overtakers led the way with times of 35:39 and 36:48 respectively.
The men’s 50+ masters race saw two old rivals and great friends, Makaya Masumpa of Born 2 Run and Monde Tutani of Gugulethu take first and second. Masumpa also took seventh overall in 35:53, with Tutani 14th in 39:18. The women’s 50+ category saw Run Walk for Life’s Sharon Wood winning the title from Sharon Eldridge of Old Selbornians, a club that cleaned up the most senior 60+ category among both the men and women.
Charl Pienaar was again impressive with a 44:47 in the men’s event, while Michelle Whittington and Beanie Beard finished together in the women’s.