April seeks July success
Bay half marathon has national status
INTERNATIONALLY renowned long distance runner Lusapho April will be gunning for his first Jumbo SA Half Marathon Champs title at Pollok Beach, Summerstrand, on July 25. At the official launch yesterday, April, 33, said winning the SA half marathon title in his home town would be one of his greatest achievements.
“I haven’t got that monkey off my back yet. I have won the SA Marathon champs. Winning this one will be an awesome achievement for me and I’d be very happy,
“I am very excited and it gives me great pleasure to run at home as I don’t have to travel that far. Hopefully the weather will come right so that we can have a fast race.
“I always prepare to win a race so nothing has changed. I am still going to stick to that,” April said.
The two-time Two Oceans Half Marathon winner says the competition will be tough but he is up for it.
“Everyone has been running well lately so it’s going to be tough, but I am ready for the challenge.
“I’ve run against those guys but it’s just that you will never know what happens on the day.
“What is good about me now is that I am not injured and I just hope that I stay injury free so that I can give it my best shot on the day of the race.”
April said: “I prefer running a fast course. The race will be close to the sea so the wind might be blowing hard. I just hope that the wind stays away because [with] fast times we get invitations from international races.”
The 2012 London Olympian says he has started with his preparations and is targeting a personal best.
“I have just run a marathon a month ago so I have started with my prep work. I also have some shorter races lined up. They will show what shape I’ll be in for the half marathon.
“A PB [personal best] will be good enough for me and I believe I am in shape to get deep under 60 minutes provided the wind stays away.”
Bay long distance queen Ntombesintu Mfunzi has also set her sights on the title. Mfunzi, 33, has international experience, having run in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland (Myslecinek Park) and Edinburgh (Holyrood Park).
“I know there is going to be very tough competition but I train here in PE and am familiar with the weather conditions. I will use that to my advantage.
“So far everything is going well training-wise. I recently took part in the Spar Ladies race. I ran the first leg in Cape Town and the second in Port Elizabeth earlier this month.
“I’ll also be doing the third leg in Durban on June 7,” Mfunzi said.
It will be the second time Port Elizabeth will be hosting the prestigious event and this year’s version has been awarded national status by Athletics South Africa.
A total of R360 000 in prize-money is up for grabs. The first prize is R35 000 for both male and females in the 21.1km event.
To spice things up, this year the runners from both men and women entries who break the SA record (59 minutes 16 seconds for men and 66 minutes for women) will receive R100 000 cash.
Race director Alan Taylor says races of this calibre are needed to encourage young runners and enable them to compete internationally.
The entry fee is R100 and R20 for the 5km fun run. Athletes can enter online at www.whereinpe.co.za