Silale strikes twice in five days with record-breaking run

Silale capped a stellar April campaign, which included a master women’s victory at the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon.

May 5, 2026

Lebohang Pita 2 minutes read

Christina Silale also won the master women's race. She's in the photo with MNS Attorneys exco member Ayanda Makgoka and Manjoh marketing manager Lihle Maboya.

Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) workhorse Christina Silale claimed her second marathon in five days at the MNS Attorneys Carnival City Marathon in Brakpan on May 1.

Fresh from conquering the gruelling Actom Power Marathon on April 26 in Germiston in 3:10:30, she secured the Carnival City Marathon in a new women’s course record of 3:03:43 in wet and cloudy conditions.

The Wattville resident slashed a remarkable 35:15 off Benoni Northerns athlete Alexandra Harris’ previous mark of 3:38:58, set at last year’s inaugural race.

Two runners dressed in blue and white kit, a female and a male, coming over the finish line at a marathon. — Christina Silale crosses the line to win the women’s marathon. She’s flanked by her coach David Gamede. Photo: Lebohang Pita

“The race was okay,” she said. “It was part of my training for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on May 24, where I hope to have a good race.”

Despite the record-breaking run in Brakpan, the 50-year-old had a simple mission.

ALSO READ: Silale first BAC woman to finish Comrades

“I wasn’t focused on the time. My strategy was to go for the win. I also want to thank my coach, David Gamede, for pushing me.”

Gamede, himself a season Comrades Marathon grandmaster podium finisher, seconded Silale from the gun to the tape, guiding her at a brisk 03:10/km pace as part of their build-up to the Comrades in June.

“Coach’s instruction was to keep at a 03:10 pace because we are doing speed training for the Comrades. All the marathons we are doing now are to work on my speed in the lead up to the ultra-race,” Silale said.

Silale capped a stellar April campaign, which included a master women’s victory at the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, and now has her sights firmly on the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, which is gunning for an Abbott World Marathon Major status.

Two white woman and a black woman on a podium after a marathon. — Christina Silale (centre) won the women's marathon at the MNS Attorneys Carnival City Marathon in a new course record. She is flanked by runner-up Gillian Farquharson and Samantha Prokopiou, who was third. Photo: Lebohang Pita

“The target is 2:55 or 2:58,” she said.

Running two marathons in five days – on the back of a 56km ultra just weeks earlier – would test most athletes, but Silale credits her demanding training for her resilience.

“My training is very tough. I did 90km before going to Two Oceans, recovered for a week and added another 90 before the race in Germiston.”

Beyond the medals and records, Silale runs for a much deeper purpose.

“I run for the children of Wattville. It’s a community affected by substance abuse, and I want to show them what’s possible.

“When we run as BAC, and the Boksburg Advertiser writes about us, it gives hope. I want the youth to believe they can achieve something, too. Being 50 and still winning races shows them they can do it as well,” said Silale.

ALSO READ: BAC’s Silale to defend Daveyton Street Mile title