HOEDSPRUIT – Maruleng Athletic Club’s Mpho Albert Maake produced one of the standout performances at the Nedbank Spring Opener Half-Marathon, hosted by Nedbank Limpopo Running Club in Tzaneen, finishing third overall in the 10km race.

Maake completed the 10km in an impressive 35:38, securing a podium finish in a competitive field and leading a strong showing by Maruleng AC runners at the event.

The club was represented by athletes across both the 21km and 10km races, with runners delivering notable performances in various age categories.

Mahlaku leads the way in the 21km

In the 21km race, Aubrey Mahlaku was Maruleng AC’s leading performer, completing the half-marathon in 01:29:56. Mahlaku competed in the men’s 40-49 age category and was among the club’s strongest performers over the longer distance.

Michael Masete, competing in the men’s 20-39 category, completed the 21km in 01:45:14, adding another solid performance for the club.

The club also recorded a closely fought finish between Mothibi Maponya and Ntloana Hlabishi, with both athletes crossing the line in 02:07:46. Maponya competed in the men’s 50-59 category, while Hlabishi represented the men’s 20-39 category.

Diapo Letsoalo produced one of the club’s notable results in the 21km, completing the race in 02:07:47. His performance earned him third place in the men’s 40-49 age category, giving Maruleng AC a podium result in the half-marathon.

Maruleng Local Municipality Mayor Tsheko Musolwa, also competing in the men’s 40-49 category, finished the 21km in 02:11:41, rounding off the club’s representation in the half-marathon.

Depth on show in the 10km field

Maruleng AC’s strong showing continued in the 10km event, where Maake’s third-place overall finish was complemented by a top-10 performance from Doctor Malepe.

Malepe completed the race in 39:55 while competing in the men’s 50-59 age category. His performance placed him among the leading runners in his race and added another strong result to the club’s tally.

The club’s veteran representation was highlighted by Jinion Machimane, who competed in the men’s 70 category and completed the 10km in 01:43:25.

Triza Selepe also represented Maruleng AC in the women’s 10km race. Competing in the women’s 20-39 category, Selepe completed the distance in 02:09:15.

Strong start to the spring season

The Nedbank Spring Opener provided runners with an opportunity to kick-start the spring season and assess their form against fellow athletes from the region.

For Maruleng AC, the Tzaneen event produced encouraging results, with athletes competing strongly across different distances and age categories.

Maake’s overall podium finish in the 10km and Letsoalo’s third-place age-category result in the 21km were particular highlights for the club, while the performances of the remaining runners demonstrated the depth of Maruleng AC’s participation.