Maseko takes his first win for 2018
LVCC's Ntuthuko Maseko defended his Uniwisp Fast Marathon title after a convincing victory of 50 kilometres in three hours and six minutes.
Bongi Nohlasana placed second with a time of three hours, 13 minutes and 20 seconds – almost 10 minutes ahead of third-place finisher, the host, Nelspruit Marathon Club’s Sipho Chauke
in 3:24,09.
Last year’s Mozma road race silver medallist, Tlangelani Mthimkulu from Legogote Villagers, reigned supreme in the ladies category with a time of 4:42,22. Ford’s Maria Moloko (40+) followed in 4:45,07 and Cornell Metcalf rounded off the podium with a time of 4:45,42.
Elsa de Beer (LVCC) and Lowveld Canoe Club’s Alisson Hayes gave 21,1-kilometre winner, Gift Ramabele a run for her money as the time difference of only seven minutes determined places one to three.
Ramabele (Maxed) crossed the line in 1:34,46, De Beer in 1:36,15 and Hayes in 1:41,50.
As expected, the men’s 10-kilometre was a hell of a race.
Prince Ndlovu (Run Walk for Life), Abednico Mashaba and Thulani Lekhuleni (both running for Born 2 Win) opened up a sizeable lead from the start.
Title holder of the Power of Love Night Race, Ndlovu ran one of his season bests in a time of 31:17. It was an unrelenting chase between the second- and third-place finishers with Mashaba taking silver (31:52) and Lekhuleni bronze in a time of 31:59.
LowMed’s Folavio Sehohle and William Mashaba are currently training for the South African Athletics Championships set to take place in Pretoria from March 15 to 17.
Mashaba will participate on Thursday at LC de Villiers for the second leg of the Grand Prix series.
