Night Race a ‘community event’
Benoni Northerns Athletic Club's annual Rowlin National Night Race took place on Wednesday, November 5.
One of the most popular events on the Benoni sporting calendar, the Rowlin National Brokers Night Race, was held on Wednesday, November 5.
The race, organised annually by Benoni Northerns Athletics Club (BNAC), attracted over 2 500 runners and walkers to the 5km fun run, 10km and 15km events.
As usual, the more serious road runners forged ahead, while the less competitive runners held back and enjoyed the festivities created by the community and the members of BNAC along the Rynfield route.
According to Rowlin National Night Race organiser Jan Jordaan, the event was successful and ran smoothly.
“Judging by some of the comments made on our Facebook page, the general consensus is that the runners really enjoyed the race,” he said.
He added that the night race is fast becoming a true community event, evident by the increase in numbers of walkers and runners in the 5km fun run.
“We are extremely excited that the 5km is growing, as it shows that more of the community is supporting the race and enjoying the festivities, however, the numbers in the 15km were a bit down from last year,” Jordaan said.
He thanked everybody involved for making it a big success, including the race sponsor, Rowlin National Brokers, for their invaluable support.
“Our sponsor has committed to another five years and they are really giving back to the community through their support.”
Jordaan said there were 1 500 finishers in the 5km, 760 finishers in the 10km and 460 finishers in the 15km race.
In the competitive 15km run, it was Nedbank Running Club’s Tumelo Mahlangu who stormed in to claim first place, in a time of 47 minutes and eight seconds.
He was followed by last year’s winner, Vusi Malabola, who came in just 40 seconds behind Mahlangu.
There is some confusion around whether Mahlangu had set a new 15km course record or not.
At the time of going to press, race announcer Pete van der Merwe said he was still sorting through past race results to determine if the winner did, indeed, beat the race record.
The first woman runner home in the 15km was Yolandi McClean, in a time of 55 minutes and 37 seconds.
Full results are:
10km, men, open: 1 Collen Mailola (Nedbank) 31:36, 2 Siyabanga Mabena (GS) 31:53, 3 Don Ndlovu (Cool Running) 32:06. Veterans: 1 Jaco de Jager (Kempton) 39:49. Masters: 1 Ian Morshead (Boksburg) 37:09. Grandmasters: 1 Hans Sliep (Top Start) 48:35. Great Grandmasters: 1 Daniel Macnamara (Kayalami) 67:20. Walkers: 1 Lebeauf von Benecke (RWFL) 49:19.
10km, women, open: 1 Kiera Gosling – disqualified (Benoni High) 41:43, 2 Dianne Krige (Kempies) 46:00, 3
Michelle Meyer (Boksburg) 46:02, 4 Evangela Thompson (Temp) 46:16. Veterans: 1 Lindi Benson (BCC) 47:53. Masters: 1 Jennifer Rogers (Boksburg) 54:37. Grandmasters: 1 Maz Moore (Kayalami) 65:53. Great Grandmasters: 1 Dot van Heerden (Fit 2000) 97:55. Walkers: 1 Kate Hall (RWFL) 76:50.
15km, men, open: 1 Tumelo Mahlangu (Nedbank) 47:08, 2 Vusi Malobola (Maxed Elite) 47:48, 3 Odwa Tunyiswa (Cool Running) 48:01. Veterans: 1 Sipho Dlamini (GCH) 57:06. Masters: 1 Philemon Mborazi (Benoni Harriers) 62:23. Grandmasters 1 Willie Maisela (Boksburg) 62:22. Great Grandmasters: 1 Joe Texeira (Hamlet on line) 88:23. Walkers: 1 Willem Lubbinge (Maritimo) 2:01:55.
15km, women, open: 1 Yolandi McClean (Temp) 55:37, 2 Lauren Dance (MAD Multisport) 61:28, 3 Robyn Kaltenbrunn (Benoni High) 61:29. Veterans: 1 Adel Hecter (Boksburg) 82:56. Masters: 1 Rita van Wyk (Boksburg) 78:10. Grandmasters: 1 Lettie Coetzee (Goudveld Multisport) 86:47. Walkers: 1 Christine Malan (RWFL) 1:54:21.
