Selati Marathon still as popular as ever with over 3 000 participants
More than 3 000 people surged over the starting line of the Selati Marathon on Saturday morning to compete in the popular annual event's fun run and 10 km and 21 km races.
With the blast of the Selati Marathon’s quaint little cannon, more than 3 000 runners set out from the Malelane Rugby Club on Saturday morning for the 31st edition of the annual race and fun run.
This race is a favourite of marathon runners due to the scenery and great spirit among competitors and supporters and the fun run has become a huge community event for Onderbergers.
The race was established in 1989 and during last year’s 30th anniversary had its most pre-entries and entrants to date.
A total of 1 757 people competed in the 10 km and 21 km races this year. The 2 km and 5 km fun run, which is also a fundraiser for Malelane Primary, was packed with a total of 1 500 people. The group included many enthusiastic primary school runners, parents with strollers and even a few gogos.
GALLERY: Hundreds of runners successfully complete the popular Selati Marathon
Bernard Goosen, assisted by his wife Michelle and John Khoza, competed in his wheelchair to raise awareness for Stop Poaching our Endangered African Rhino (Spear). The local non-profit organisation aims to raise funds to assist anti-poaching forces in the Kruger National Park.
The first person to cross the finish line was 10 km runner Samuel Mathabatha of LowMed Athletics Club with a time of 31:53, he was followed by Thulani Lukhuleni of Born to Win with 32:01 and Sibonginkosi Maseko of Ngodwana Marathon Club with 32:14.
The winning women were Thandeka Mnisi of Nedbank LVCC with 42:15, Tembe Khoza of Lowmed with 43:59 and Zanele Sehohle of Rob Ferreira with 44:42.
Abednico Mashaba of Born to Win snatched the title from the last two years’ winner Folavio Sehohle of LowMed, with a time of 1:06:46. Sehohle came second in a time of 1:08:27.
About 34 seconds later, Grahan Malinga of Eskom crossed the 21 km finish line.
The first lady of the 21 km was Winile Mnisi of Nedbank LVCC with a time of 1:32:55, followed by Madeleine Whitehair with 1:37:58 and Lisa Main of Nedbank LVCC with 1:41:47.
All runners once again left with goodie bags and arms full of local produce and several prizes were handed out during the prize-giving. Many runners also stayed until the end in hopes of winning a coveted wheelbarrow full of RCL Foods products.
The teams manning the various watering points once again competed for several awards and the RCL Foods Sugar and Milling Agricultural Division celebrated their 11th straight victory.
