Capacity crowd at JP Morgan Challenge

A CAPACITY crowd of 13 000 entrants representing 227 companies turned out at the 11th JP Morgan Challenge, which was run in Johannesburg.

It was a welcome start for the runners on Thursday March 6 after the week of continuous rain. This also marked the overall 38th year of the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge Series worldwide.

Less than 20 minutes later, within the upper cricket oval in the historic Wanderers Club, Samuel Segoaba of Transnet Engineering proved to be the fastest of the bunch, breaking the men’s finish tape in 16:50. Transnet made it a clean sweep at the top, when Annah Moeketsi beat all other women to the line in 21:28.

“There aren’t many corporate events the whole company can participate in around Johannesburg,” said Stuart Stone, CEO of Bayport South Africa, which brought 200 participants. “There is an awesome feeling of pride that comes with lining up at the start of the JP Morgan wearing our Bayport kit — we always stand out and are noticed by those running and walking with us.”

Standing out also was the event beneficiary, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. JP Morgan will make a donation on behalf of all entrants to the Foundation, which was supported at Wanderers by an A-list of South African sporting and entertainment stars, including rugby legends Morné du Plessis and Butch James, and Olympian distance runner Elana Meyer.

You don’t need to be a world-class athlete to compete in the Corporate Challenge, which celebrates an all-inclusive feel that welcomes the best racers and first-time walkers, from all positions within a company.

The rain returned post-race, but it didn’t interrupt a well-attended post-race concert featuring Mi Casa, the 2012 Group of the Year at the 2012 South African Music Awards. DJ Vin Deyzel, star of the weekend Vin Mix on 94.7 Highveld Stereo radio, were among the performers.