Mathipa, Bennette Makibelo and Bafana Mabenda from the Tembisa Athletics Club participated in the up run Comrades Marathon on June 4.
Makibelo said the race from Durban to Pietermaritzburg was a difficult one for him.
“This was my first up run but I am glad because I reached my target. I ran the race in 11 hours and 30 minutes. My next step is to continue training very hard to improve my time,” said Makibelo.
Makibelo said his performance at the 2017 Johnson Crane Hire Marathon was the best ever as it qualified him for the Comrades Marathon.
He said he appreciates all the support he got from his team mates and his family.
Madumetja Donald Mathipa said he participated in the Comrades with only one goal in mind – to finish the race.
“I sustained an injury in February so in February and March it was difficult for me to train because I was battling with the injury,” said Mathipa.
He invited more runners to join the Tembisa Athletics Club and eventually participate in the Comrades Marathon.
According to Comrades Marathon’s online race results, the Tembisa athletes performed as follows:
Madumetja Donald Mathipa attained a Bill Rowan medal coming in at 08:27:48 (finish time).
Bafana Mabena received a bronze medal coming in at 10:16:51 (finish time).
Bennette Makibelo was awarded a Vic Clapham medal coming in at 11:31:06 (finish time).
Another Tembisan athlete who participated in the Comrades Marathon is Tumelo Mokobane of the Olifantsfontein Athletic Club.
He managed to achieve a b bronze medal coming in at 09:36:04 (finish time).
The Tembisan previously reported on Tumelo’s participation in the Ten 10 run to raise awareness of abused animals in townships.
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