Born to Win: Running mates emerge as champions together

Runners will tell you there are few things as refreshing as an early morning winter run. It becomes a much bigger treat when you get to run an easy 10 kilometres through the Lowveld Botanical Garden. With the sun barely up, a total of 337 runners lined up at Riverside Mall on Saturday for the Riverside Park Precinct’s annual Charity Road Race.

Luckily it was not as cold as on the morning of the race last year, a fact appreciated by organisers Lowveld Canoe Club’s marshalls.

“Brothers” Bheki Nkosi and Thulane Lukhuleni crossed the finish line together, after 00:33:01, the fastest time for the day.

Both are members of Born to Win Athletics Club. They finished exactly one minute before their closest competitor, Nedbank’s Talent Muguwu.

Prize money was up for grabs for the male and female winners of each category. In the open section the top three finishers received cash. But the main aim was to raise money for a charity.

Jo-Anne Wearne, marketing manager for Riverside Park Precinct, said the beneficiary was about to be finalised at the time of going to print. “We donate to a different charity every year. We like to spread it around the community so it is not the same one each time.”

The first woman to cross the line was Nora Sibanda in a time of 00:39:21, followed by Notokhozo Dlamini in 00:39:34. Madri Wiid came in third with a time of 00:42:26.

Results

Bheki Nkosi 00:33:01 – Born to Win

Thulane Lukhuleni 00:33:01 – Born to Win

Talent Muguwu 00:34:01 – Nedbank

Henning van Aswegen 00:35:55 – Bergvlam

Ruben Malatji 00:36:40 – Nelspruit

Henrique de Lange 00:37:04 – LVCC

Willem Botha 00:37:10 – RWFL

Elmon Ndlovu 00:37:31 – PMMC

Marco Ruthven 00:38:03 – Tuks

Tertius Mentz 00:38:10 – Legogote

Arlo van Heerden 00:39:16 – NHS.

• See more pictures here: ‘Runners brave early-morning cold for charity‘