ECR DJs complete Mandela Marathon
Two East Coast Radio DJs have managed to complete the 2013 Nelson Mandela Marathon.
Lebo Masike was our best performer with a time of five hours 30 minutes.
Makhosi Khoza clocked five hours and 45 minutes.
Mak has been battling an ITBS injury, and so is thrilled with his finish.
He says though it was a hard day out on the road. "They didn't tell me about all the hills!"
Ethiopian, Getachew Bekele, won Sunday's race ahead of over 2 100 runners over the gruelling course from Edendale to the capture site at Howick.
It was Western Province runner, Sityhilo Diko, who led the field up the mighty “Struggle Hill” to pass through the first hot-spot at 14km in 51:33 and collect a R10 000 bonus.
(Above: Makhosi (right) with Madiba's grandson, Mandla Mandela)
As Diko relaxed to recover, Zimbabwean Kudakwashe Kanduna took over the reigns and hurtled through half-way in 1:16:54, only a few seconds ahead of the lead group.
Henry Kipsang took the lead as the field passed Cedara, climbed through Merrivale and then to the Howick Stadium. The Kenyan was unable to maintain his pace as they headed towards Midmar Dam, allowing Bekele and David Rasefeko, who had been happy to stay in the group, to take control.
In almost ideal running conditions it was Bekele who led the race up the final 300m past the sculpture of Madiba to the finish line in 2:29:48, missing the record set last year by Brighten Chipere by over a minute.
Nedbank's Rasefeko was second in 2:30:50, while Sikhumbuzo Seme was another 150 metres adrift in third spot.
Magama Ngcobo, running in the colours of Chesterville, earned the first ladies hot-spot on the climb to Mtolo’s Butchery by breaking free of Transnet’s Catherine Skosana to record a time of one hour, one minute 18 seconds for the 14km.
Skosana then tried to stamp her authority on the race and led through half way in 1:32:11 with over 80 seconds in hand over Ngcobo.
The Transnet athlete seemed to have it in the bag until the final 10km where Zimbabwean sisters, Chiyedza and Lizih Chokore, who had been content to languish over three minutes off the pace at half-way, made their move and chased Skosana down to take the lead close to Midmar Dam.
It was Chiyedza who proved to be the stronger on the climb up to the Howick junction. The Maxed Elite athlete broke the tape in 3:06:20 seconds to set a new course record, with Lizih trailiing by 250m.
Skosana was just over three minutes adrift when she crossed the line in third.
There was drama to the very end for Patience Khumalo who collapsed metres before the finish. As a fellow runner attempted to assist her, officials insisted that she complete the course under her own steam and the Tswane University of Technology student crawled over the line in 3:12:57 for seventh position.
- Norrie Williamson and Andre Bloem
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre