BNAC runners push themselves at Two Oceans
Gerda Steyn and Khoarahlane Seutloali won the women's and men's races.
Alison de Bruin and Jazz van Rensburg led the Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) charge at the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon on April 5.
Gerda Steyn won a record sixth title, while Lesotho’s Khoarahlane Seutloali won the men’s race.
De Bruin crossed the line in 04:34:49, becoming the BNAC’s first lady at the finish of the 56km ultra-marathon. She was 66th in the women’s race and 40th in her category.
Nadia Emslie was the club’s second female athlete to complete the race after a 04:47:20 slog from Main Road in Newlands to the UCT Rugby Felds. Lara Lyus completed the BNAC’s top three in 04:56:38.
Steyn was intentional from the onset, taking the lead and then stretching the women’s field. There was no catching the Hollywoodbets AC top runner once she got into her rhythm and she won a record sixth title in 03:29:11.
Kenyan Shelmik Muriuki finished 8:40 off the pace in 03:37:51 for second place. Lesotho’s Neheng Khatala completed the podium in 2:48 after Muriuki in 03:40:39.
Men
Van Rensburg was the BNAC’s first man to enter the UCT Rugby Fields, finishing the race in 04:24:20, with Nico Pretorius following him 3:02 later. Darren Zabielski completed the Northerns podium in 04:30:18.
After finishing eighth last year, Seutloali was in sensational form when he usurped pre-race favourite and defending champion Onalenna Khonkhobe, winning the men’s race in 03:10:47.
Siboniso Sikhakhane took the runner-up spot in 03:11:18, while debutant Lucky Mohale, six-time winner of the Johnson Crane Hire half-marathon, took the last podium spot nine seconds after Sikhakhane.
Half-marathon
The forever improving Kaitlyn Bubb clocked a massive Totalsports Two Oceans half-marathon PB after clocking a well-executed 01:26:52, finishing 23rd in the women’s race on April 6.
Bubb chopped a massive 1:55 off her 01:28:47 from last year’s race.
Robyn Pheiffer was the BNAC’s second lady after crossing the line in 01:31:48 and Jessica Vermaas completed the club’s top three in 01:41:05.
Kenyan Mercy Jebet Kibor won the women’s race in 01:17:06, while William Kaptein won a tighly-contested men’s race in 01:04:41.
Also Read: Bubb and Pheiffer on podium at marathon
Also Read: Two Oceans result delights Bubb
