IN PHOTOS: Runners greet 170-million-year-old Screaming Monster
The short part of the race route that passes through the Sudwala Caves is unique to the event.
Samkelo Ngobese of Bella’s Athletics Club put on a stellar performance to win the 2026 Screaming Monster Half Marathon on Saturday, April 11. He clocked 01:11:34 to claim the gold medal.
Impala’s Mthandazo Qhima was second in 01:16:56. He was also the men’s 40+ winner. Nthuthuko Maseko of Nedbank was third in 01:19:40.
The Sudwala Screaming Monster 21.1km and 10km are races with a rather old twist. A short part of the routes take the runners through a section of the 170-million-year-old Sudwala Caves.
They run around the ‘Screaming Monster’, a stalactite that has joined with a stalagmite over millions of years.
The races started and finished at Mankele Adventures.
Nomvula Sithole of Ngodwana Marathon Club powered to victory in the women’s 21.1km race in 01:32:10.
Michelle Dykman of Nedbank was second in 01:45:03, and her clubmate, Maritske Rautenbach third in 01:46:34.
Abednico Mashaba of Uniwisp claimed the gold medal in the men’s 10km race in 00:35:46.
Prince Ndlovu of Bella’s was second in 00:36:02, and his teammate, Siyabonga Mashego third in 00:37:21.
Vanessa Nkhambela of Ngodwana Marathon Club was the winner of the women’s 10km race and the junior category winner. She clocked 00:46:47.
Sheba Sethole of Definition was the second female overall and the second junior home in 00:53:19.
Madelein Whitehair was the third woman to finish. The Nedbank LVCC runner was also the 50+ winner and froze the stopwatch on 01:22:42.
Other 21.1km category winners:
• 40+ female: Anita Odendaal (Middelburg) – 02:05:32
• 50+ female: Nozipho Ngwenya (Legogote) – 02:26:17
• 60+ female: Fransie du Toit (Middelburg) – 02:05:21
• 50+ male: Alphios Motloung (Nelspruit) – 01:56:30
• 60+ male: Paul Le Hanie (Lowmed) – 01:59:21.
Other 10km category winners:
• 40+ female: Nicola Mason – 00:54:22
• 60+ female: Maria Morland (Kruger Park Marathon Club) – 01:21:29
• 70+ female: Veronica Dubell (Legogote) 01:16:59
• Walker female: Helga van der Westhuizen (Bella’s) – 01:25:32
• Junior male: Owethu Kunene (Definition) – 00:37:30
• 40+ male: Nicholas Baluku (Super Eagles) – 00:44:34
• 50+ male: Adriaan Smuts (Lydenburg) – 00:55:23
• 70+ male: Enos Ndimande (Nedbank) – 01:17:48
• Walker male: Hendrie Claasen (Coaldust) – 01:28:47.
