New winners for uMhlanga trail run

TWO new faces won the uMhlanga Liberty Trail Run and Walk on Monday as they defeated a field of 650 runners, visiting runner Al Lesli from the UK and Pinetown’s Cary-Ann Smith were the leading lady and man in the testing 18km run. Fresh off the plane, Lesli, found out about the run and decided to enter the race at the morning’s registration. The unknown runner who was unfamiliar with the route and conditions trounced the competitive field that included several Comrades marathon runners and experienced trail runners.

Lesli had a 38 second gap on Somerset Park’s Glen Gore, winning the race in 1 hour and 22minutes. Pinetown’s Cary-Ann Smith was clear by a minute over second placed Keren Worlock. In the 12km run, Derek Wasserfall from Kloof added yet another victory to his winning streak in trail running. “This was one of the best run’s I have competed in in recent times,” a tired but enthusiastic Wasserfall said after the run. The new route kept the runners concentration up as they traversed over a multitude of terrains, “The 12km run had three water crossings, a river, lagoon and river mouth crossing while the 18km race had two water crossings, a river and river mouth crossing. It was less severe than the last one,” said race organiser, Buzz Bolton.

“It was a technical run, but nothing too crazy. In the cane breaks, the guys had to concentrate on their footing as they landed on tufty grass in the sugar cane section. We also had a bit of a jungle gym section, where everyone had to clamber over roots and tree stumps which made the race more adventurous. It caused a bit of a traffic jam, but everyone took it as an opportunity to catch their breath and chat to the other people,” he said adding, “We had a record field of 653 athletes, we are very happy as the race just grows all the time.”

Men 18km

1 Al Lesli 1.22:00, 2 Glen Gore 1.22:38, 3 Andrew Erasmus 1.23:06

Women 18km

1 Cary-Ann Smith 1.33:13, 2 Keren Worlock 1.34:28, 3 Patricia Dammann 1.36:16

Men 12km Run

1 Derek Wasserfall 52:56, 2 Joseph Mangewangele 54:30, 3 Brent Chiazzari 57:31

Women 12km Run

1 Kim Watchurst 1.08:12, 2 Kylie Griffin 1.12:07, 3 Natasha Stannin 1.13:24

Men 12km Walk

1 Michael Mostert 2.07:22

Women 12km Walk

1 Colleen McCann 2.04:32

Men 5km Run

1 Naren Sunker, 2 Darren Till, 3 Lloyd Uren

Women 5km Run

1 Jenna O’Brien, 2 Nana Sigubudu, 3 Jenna van der Merwe