Fifth edition of the TomTom Tembisa Mile announced
A star studded line up of some of South Africa’s very best road, track and cross country athletes has been assembled for the event.
Tembisa Athletics Club has announced that the fifth TomTom Tembisa Street Mile Race will set off from Tembisa’s Moses Molelekwa Arts Centre (adjacent to Makhulong Stadium) on October 30.
A star-studded line-up of some of South Africa’s very best road, track and cross-country athletes has been assembled for the event.
The race incorporates a 10km run and walk for everyday runners and walkers.
“The TomTom Tembisa Street Mile is a flagship athletics event for our community. It is a unique race that aims to revive athletics and promote health and fitness in local residents as part of its primary objectives,” said Mr Donald Mathipa, race founder and director. “It is in the spirit of healthy living that the TomTom Tembisa Street Mile invites all runners from all walks of life, regardless of age and fitness, to participate on Race Day.”
Mr Mathipa said a variety of race categories will be open to the public. The TomTom Tembisa Street Mile welcomes elite (professional) athletes, amateur runners, as well as boys and girls under the age of 15.
As the prestige of the Tembisa Mile has increased, so has the total prize purse for the race, which has reached nearly R50 000.
There are also time incentives available to the first three men and women to better the existing race records.
The winners in the men and women categories of the elite mile will take home R5 000 cash each.
Should the winners break the existing course records for the mile, each will get a R2 000 time bonus.
Johan Cronje set the elite men’s record of 4 minutes and 10 seconds in 2013 while Lebogang Phalula set the elite women’s record of 4 minutes and 44 seconds.
First prize for the 10km run is R3 000.
Should the winners of the 10km break the existing course records of 29:26 (men) and 34:51 (women), they will each get a time incentive of R2 000.
Pre-entries are open and available online at www.championchip.co.za or www.tembisamile.co.za
Entries will also be taken on Saturday, October 29 at the race venue from 9am to 6pm.
Last-minute entries can be processed on race day from 6am to 7.55am.
For Tembisa residents, entries are available at Tembisa High School sports office, Monday to Friday from 12pm to 3pm.
Entry fees for the race vary in accordance with the level of competition. Details are as follows:
- The 10km run and walk will carry a fee of R60 for licensed athletes.
- Unregistered athletes have to pay an additional fee of R20 for the temporary licence needed to participate.
- Temporary championship timing device fee is R20 for those who don’t own a chip.
- The entry fee for the walkers mile U/19 boys/girls, U/15 boys and girls is R40.
The race is limited to 1 500 entries and medals and goodie bags will be distributed to all race finishers.
Simonay Weitsz and Dumisane Hlaselo will be defending their elite women and men titles. In the 10km race Namakoe Nkhasi of Lesotho and Rutendo Nyahora of Zimbabwe will be defending their 10km titles.
Other confirmed entries include the South African 10km record holder Stephen Mokoka, and the reigning SA 10km champion Elroy Gelant.
The Phalula sister, Mapaseka Makhanya will also be taking part in both the 10km and mile races.
The 2016 Comrades women’s champion Charne Bosman and the 2014 Comrades champion Claude Moshiywa will take part in the 10km road race.
For more information, email info@tembisamile.co.za
