Half marathon at Marula Festival draws many

Chief Executive Officer of the Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA), Ndumiso Matlala was amongst the more than 400 athletes that fell in behind the starting line last Saturday for the start of the Marula Festival Half Marathon in Phalaborwa.
The entries came from the province’s most prominent clubs such as Pietersburg Road Runners, Tzaneen Athletics Club, Samancor, Eskom Gijima, Nedbank and
Phuti Mohale from Pietersburg Road Runners won the 21,1 km men’s category in a time of 01:10:55 while his fellow club member Jane Mudau did the same in the women’s 21,1 in a time of 01:33:33. The duo took home gold medals and R3 000 in prize money each for their sterling performance during their races.
The 10 km men’s category was won by Phuti Sethowa from Tzaneen Athletics Club in a time of 00:32:52 while Thabiso Mabasa from the same club won the 10 km women’s race in a time of 00:43:50.
For their endeavours they also received gold medals and and R1 500 in prize money each.
Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Nandi Ndalani congratulated the winners and said they were proud of the athletes and wished them well. “They did well in their respective categories and we are happy for them. It was also encouraging to see young and old athletes taking part in the event. The aim is to grow the marathon and we want to see an even bigger turnout next year.”
Mohale said he was using the race to the race to improve his time. “Last year I did not do well. When I entered the race I did not think of winning, the aim was to improve my time and I am glad to have done so this year,” he said.

Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za