GOING THE DISTANCE
Need to nurture gifted black female runners
If distance running were to go on an elite talent search in the Border/Kei region, the billboard most required would read something like “where are all the talented black women runners?”
That is not to be derogatory to the many recreational black women who grace our roads currently.
The fact is that the bulk of any road race, running club or even schools cross-country teams comprise mostly social runners, and that is absolutely okay.
Indeed these are the folk that attract the sponsors and make races successful as a going concern.
However, there has to be a peak to any pyramid.
In the despairing days of apartheid Border were able to call upon the services of the likes of Liesbet Ntozini, who won many local races, from the marathon and half marathon distance to numerous impressive 10kms.
Ntozini was prominent in the early years of the local women’s race, sponsored initially by a women’s boutique owned by Kate Gray. She won the race with a time of 39:21 back in 1988.
Ntozini would go on to represent Border at various national championship events and perform especially well at the marathon distance.
Other top black women included Ncumisa Mcata, Buzelwa Mnyanda, Maureen Dladla, Xoliswa Bici and more.
Mnyanda was probably the most polished, particularly at the marathon, which she often ran shoeless, her forefeet bandaged. Mnyanda was a tough runner and she held the Buffs Marathon record of 2:52:01 for a number of years, and it remains significantly the fastest time ever run by a local woman.
I have mentioned before a desire to debate this issue.
Out of the blue, on Wednesday, Ntozini contacted me with photographs of her club activities in Central Gauteng.
She is the assistant coach at Bayoyo Athletic Club and works closely with Charles Vilikazi, himself a household name in the late 1980s. Together they are doing fantastic work with young people.
Ntozini says that despite the political system at the time when she was at her peak, she received recognition and her results are still available for all to see.
She adds that in road running, as opposed to the country as a whole, the management of the sport was good.
Too many leaders in the sport today “know nothing about running. All they have is a hand book and quote rules.”
Now 57 years old and a mother of two, Ntozini has seen life from all sides and has much to offer.
Attitude is the key. Attitude from officialdom, coaches and athletes alike.
The majority of road running clubs are social entities, but the ones who are geared towards performance need to be more holistic in their approach. Not everything revolves around Comrades.
I have invited Ntozini to run Ocean View 10. Watch this space. the new