Athletes honour Riana van Niekerk
A race to honour the late athlete Riana van Niekekerk was hosted in Centurion.
About 3 500 people honoured athlete Riana van Niekerk on Saturday with a race at Zwartkop High School in Centurion.
The race’s name changed from Run and Walk for Bibles Half Marathon 10 and 5km to Riana van Niekerk Run and Walk for Bibles.
Van Niekerk, a six-times Comrades marathon winner, died earlier this year after a short battle with cancer.
Athletes could take part in a 5km, 10km or 21km race.
The event was used to raise funds for Bible translation and distribution in South Africa and the rest of the world.
The race’s communications manager Francois Schoombee said Van Niekerk was an exceptional athlete who had won the Om Die Dam marathon six times.
She was also a three times Two Oceans marathon gold medal winner.
Schoombee described Van Niekerk as a loyal, hardworking and an ultra-distance runner who ran every marathon to win it.
Schoombee said the marathon’s fifth anniversary was also celebrated at the event with a special community project.
Donations including running shoes, sweatshirts, caps, scarves and T-shirts were donated to needy athletes.
Donations of cash and new or second-hand running kits were also received.
The community project was successfully presented in partnership between Kerksondermure.
Other organisations that supported the event included Alpha Centurion Runners and Walkers (ACRW), Zwartkops High School, Sportsman’s Warehouse, The Bible Society of South Africa, Ijaba Security, Monitor Net, NG Sesmylspruit and Radio Pulpit.
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