Newcastle shines at Soweto Marathon

A record number of more than 21 000 runners participated in the Soweto Marathon last weekend, 20 from Newcastle’s Eskom Athletic Club.

The race, often referred to as ‘The People’s Race’ because of its unique setting and path, is one of the biggest marathons on the country’s calendar.

The event caters for runners to participate in one of three different categories best suited to their individual capabilities.

Some of the town’s athletes participated in the event for the first time, as Sibosiso Ndlovu and Sfiso Mthiyane. They performed well in the half marathon (22 Km) event, finishing an hour behind the fastest runners.

Thabo Matubatuba qualified for the Comrades Marathon on his first attempt.

“The guidance I received from our coach, Jaco Banda and my teammates, plus my training sessions have really helped,” said the dedicated runner.

A full list of the times achieved by the runners can be found in the results column.