Annual Mile Challenge record still stands

A record of 4:9 set by Boksburg Athletic Club’s Michael Pienaar three years ago was not surpassed during the Steve de Bod Annual Mile Challenge at Boksburg Stadium on December 6.

According to the secretary of BAC Caronn Harris, the mile challenge is a club tradition.

“This is the 48th challenge since the club was established. The competition is hosted for athletes to test their running time.

Athletes from different athletic teams are allowed to compete in the mile challenge. A mile race is equivalent to a 1,600m race, hence the runners had to do four laps in their categorised races,” said Caronn.

In the recent challenge, three athletes – Paul Kasu, Wynand Strydom and Kelly Linbartlett – scooped firsts in their racing categories, but couldn’t beat the set finishing-time record of Michael Pienaar, who was not at the recent meeting.

Paul Kasu claimed the first position in the elite men’s mile batch race with a completion time of 5:03, with Justin Dunn taking the second spot with a finishing time of 5:05 and Douglas Machill third with a finishing time of 5:11.

In the second elite men’s mile batch race, Wynand Strydom finished in the first spot with a completion time of 5:48, followed by Tiaan Holloway in the second spot with a finishing time of 5:55 and Evan Steenkamp third spot with a completion time of 5:58.

Kelly Linbartlett finished first with a finishing time of 5:43 during the elite women’s mile batch race and Chane Muller finished in the second spot on a timeframe of 5:57 and Katelynn Steenkamp in the third spot with a finishing time of 5:58.

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