Record tumbles at Prince Mangosuthu ultra marathon event

Hundreds of athletes took to the road in the annual Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi marathon run between Nquthu and Dundee last Sunday (April 30).
Runners could compete in the 5km, 10km 21km and 52km event. Organised by the Umzinyathi District Municipality, the event has gone on to contribute to economic activity in the entire district.
Hundreds of hopeful runners took part with many coming from around the country and even from other African countries to compete.
Ntsindiso Mphakathi from Mt Frere in the Eastern Cape set the pace in the 52km event. He not only defended the title he won last year, but he also set a new record of finishing the race within the shortest time ever, 2:56:29.
He smashed the previous record of 2:59:15 set by Nkosikhona Mhlakwana in 2021. Msawenkosi Mthalane was second with Winfred Muntiro third.
The route covers unyielding countryside from Nquthu to Dundee and for his efforts, Mphakathi took home the prize money of R100 000.
This years event attracted thousands of runners from all over South Africa, the SADC region and other African countries like Kenya.
In the ladies section, Shelmith Muriuki, took the honours in a time of 3:22:18 followed by Jenet Mbhele and Zinhle Shabalala.
Prince Buthelezi, despite ill-health, attended the prize giving ceremony and also made a speech where he congratulated the Umzinyathi District Municipality for organising the marathon ‘aimed at positive outcomes in stimulating the local economy and also increasing tourism and sports development and also inspiring our youth.’
Petros Ngubane, the district mayor, said because the marathon aids the tourism sector in the areas as athletes and their families travelled here to support the race.