Runners give 3-in-1 their all

He clocked two hours, 18 minutes and 55 seconds. Mapoto, who also won the 50km Loskop Marathon in 02:59:16 earlier this year, was a convincing victor. He finished almost seven minutes ahead of Cool Running’s Herbert Mokotala.

Mapoto also improved on Tebogo Lajaha’s time in 2015, by four minutes.

In 2013 during the Comrades “up run” he placed overall 95th and the year after in the “down run” he completed the 89,1 kilometres in a time of 06:52:25.

Geraldine Barkhuizen of VTM finished the scenic race in 02:49:01. She also improved on Mitsie van der Westhuizen’s 2015 winning time by six minutes.

Three of Nedbank LVCC’s athletes dominated the 21km race. Nontokozo Dlamini, who was victorious at the annual Van Wettens Nite Race and Legogote Villagers Mozma Trading Race, crossed the finish line in third place. She was just minutes behind Thandiwe Malatji (first) and Kerry-Anne Clarke (second).

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Dlamini won the open category last year in 01:25:38. She improved on her time in this year’s race, finishing in 01:23:53.

William Mothosola, an 800-metre athlete who ran a time of 1:46,71 at the SA champs, missing the Rio Olympics qualifying time by a mere 0,72 seconds, came second in the half-marathon.

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He was leading the pack, but Tebogo Pulusa slipped past him with only a few kilometres to go, winning the 21km in 01:06:00. Also a member of the green colours, Sifiso Sibitane placed fifth.

Curro Adventure Festival winner, Run Walk for Life’s Prince Ndlovu, completed the 10km in second place in 31:38.

Kabelo Seboko was victorious with a time of 30:52. A total of 5 032 athletes eventually crossed the finish line, an increase of more than 1 000 compared to the previous year.

The winners were as follows
42km
Men
1. Lutendo Mapoto – 02:18:55
2. Herbert Mokotala – 02:25:19
Women
1. Geraldine Barkhuizen – 02:49:01
2. Landi Maclean – 02:49:16
3. Mary Khourie – 02:52:49.

21km
Men
1. Tebogo Pulusa – 01:06:00
2. William Mothosola – 01:08:20
3. Thulani Manana – 01:08:20
Women
1. Thandiwe Malatji – 01:20:01
2. Kerry-Anne Clarke – 01:22:03
3. Nontokoza Dlamini – 01:34:53.

10km
Men
1. Kabelo Seboko – 30:52
2. Prince Ndlovu – 31:38
3. Bofenda Dube – 32:15
Women
1. Carlyn Fischer – 37:58
2. Hlengiwe Msezane – 41:17
3. Phumzile Madhlalala – 45:20.