It was a great success when about 250 athletes took to the streets of KaNyamazane to compete in KaNyamazane Marathon Club’s first race. It took place on Saturday.

The founder of Kanyamazane Marathon Club, Past Sipho Langa, said the event was a great success and well attended.

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“It was our first and to my surprise people came out to support it. I prayed about it and I really did see God’s mighty hand in it. During our meeting after the race the feedback was good and we were informed that there were no complaints raised,” he said.

They have major plans lined up for this marathon club.

“We are dreaming big and we want to see ourselves as big as the Soweto Marathon. We want to see runners from other towns in the country and in other countries participating in this marathon one day. We want to make history with this club,” he explained.

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The marathon came up when Langa was told that he was overweight and unfit. He started to walk as his way of exercising, then started hosting fun runs. Later the idea of starting a marathon club came to him and he applied at ASA. They approved the club and he launched it on April 14 last year.

Here are some of the results of the first KaNyamazane Marathon Club race

• The Born 2 Win athletes took the titles of KaNyamazane Marathon in both the men’s and women’s 21-kilometre race.
• Born 2 Win’s Abednico Mashaba took first place in the 21,1-kilometre race in 1:09:43. The silver medallist was Nthuthuko Maseko of Nedbank LVCC. He completed the race with a time of 1:13:36 and Sifiso Shange of Nelspruit M/Club got bronze, completing the race in 1:18:50.
• Angeline Molaba of Born 2 Win took first place in the 21,1 kilometre for women with a time of 1:34:46. Thandeka Mnisi of Nedbank took second place, completing the race in 1:42:30. She was followed by Sibongile Mlombo of Legogote who completed in a time of 1:51:35.
• In the women’s 10-kilometre race, Chantal-Middel Bowee of Definition Athletics Club took first place with a time of 46:11. In second place was Tembe Cossa of LowMed in 48:45. Sesi Sibanyoni of SAPS took third place with a time of 1:04:39.
• In the men’s 10-kilometre race, Mohlalepula Mothosola of Legogote took first place with a time of 33:32. Sibonginkosi Maseko of Ngodwana took second place with a time of 33:58 and Ronny Mabotja of SAPS took third in 36:13.

These runners took first place in their respective age groups and items Women

• Tembe Cossa – LowMed (Junior)
• Sibongile Mlombo – Legogote (40+)
Men
• Nthuthuko Maseko – Nedbank LVCC (40+)
• Patrick Mathebula – Legogote (50+)
• Mathew Ngwenya – Barberton Marathon Club (60+)
• Welcome Mabuza – (First walker)
• Damboy Mhlongo – Legogote (Junior)
• Ronny Mabotja – SAPS (40+)
•Henry Mthethwa – SAPS (50+)
• Amos Nyalunga – Legogote (60+).

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