Excitement mounts for new event
Top marathoners should have the edge in 50km race
THERE are a few obvious favourites to tackle the inaugural Zwelitsha to Mdantsane 50km road race tomorrow morning, though organising club, Real Gijimas are predicting a surprise package or two.
In the men’s race George Ntshiliza, the 2011 Two Oceans winner, will come up against Maphekula Mzwanele, who has two gold medals to his name. But perhaps the defining factor will be who has the fastest all time best marathon.
As it stands, that is the preserve of Nedbank, Eastern Cape’s Ntshiliza who has a best of 2:16:29 to the 2:17:45 of his most likely opponent.
Experienced ultra marathoner, Nkosana Mpolweni of the host club, said on Friday, after chatting on radio about the race, that he felt Ntshiliza could be beaten by a younger man, though he did not identify who he thought that man might be.
Where things could be spiced up, however, is if the strong team of runners from Lusikisiki, who won silver medals at the 2018 Two Oceans, are late entries and they go out with nothing to lose. Sinobom Mzukela, Mfumaneko Fandane, Andile Maqele and Lulamile Danile are the runners in question.
Bulelani Mgubo of East London club, All Stars, has been on a winning streak of late, and he had a good Two Oceans at his second attempt. He knows the terrain well and could walk off with the spoils. Two weeks ago he won the very tough Old Mutual half marathon in 69:54.
Old Selbornian runner, Malixole Kalideni won the E L Pacers 10km race last weekend, and he is known to be competitive in the longer distances as well.
It is true that Born 2 Run’s star distance runner among the women, Stephanie Smith, has entered and will be running. However, after her winning and indeed record breaking performance at the Bruitjieshoogte Ultra over a similar distance just last week, she will not be racing. She is scheduled to run the event as a training run for Comrades and will be calling upon all her discipline to maintain a steady pre-agreed pace.
In theory that could still mean that she can win at a more pedestrian pace.
The race starts close to Da Gama in Zwelitsha at 5.30am and makes its way to Phakamisa, Berlin and Fort Jackson, before entering Mdantsane and visiting the Bridle Drift Dam, which makes it a tougher assignment than was envisaged.
The finish is close to the Sisa Dukashe Stadium, a facility once the home of all Real Gijimas’ races, but now the preserve of soccer.