Bonginkosi Mavusa of Nedbank Running Club dominated the UNIWISP Kaapsehoop Marathon, taking the lead early in the race and never relinquishing it.

He came in five minutes and 28 seconds before second-placed Lesatsi Rufus Photo of Murray & Roberts.

Photo was also the winner of the 40+ category.

One thousand and twenty-two athletes (701 men and 321 women) started the race.

The popular 42.2-kilometre Comrades and Two Oceans qualifier was run in blistering-hot Lowveld weather.

The top 23 male runners in the marathon were not awarded official times. An error made by the lead vehicle resulted in them running 1.9-kilometre short. They were, however, so far in front of the next batch of athletes that there finishing positions were declared the official placings.

Teboho Maseko of Arcadia was third, coming home 17 seconds after Photo.

Mavusa also won the Dash for Cash, a race for the first runner across the halfway point.

Melinda Janse van Vuuren of Nedbank Running Club won a thrilling women’s race, edging out Helena Joubert of HOT by 11 seconds, to win the women’s race in 02:55;09.

She finished a remarkable 30th overall. Her average pace was 4:10 per kilometre.

Helena Joubert clocked 02:55;20. She was also the 40+ category winner.

Xoli Madida of Natal Carbineers was third in 03:18;01.

Janse van Vuuren also won the Dash for Cash.

The UNIWISP Kaapsehoop 10-kilometre men’s race was won by Abednico Mashaba. The Bellas runner won a sprint to the finish line, beating private entry Trust Nmumkumbe by four seconds.

Mashaba clocked 31;19.

Sibonginkosi Maseko of Ngodwana was third in 31;40.

The 10-kilometre women’s race was won by Nedbank Running Club’s Chrizell Roberts in 40;46.

Chantel Middel-Bovee of Definition was second in 40;59 and Zanele Sehole of Bellas third in 43;59.

Middel-Bovee was also the 40+ category winner and Sehole the junior winner.