Secunda parkrunners enjoy first run for 2024

Local parkrunners began the new year by walking, jogging and running parkrun number 386 on January 1.

The 5km route which takes off at the Trichardsprit Dam every Saturday had 182 parkrunners at this event.

Marieta Kotze and Kobus Botha are congratulated on joining the Green 250 Milestone Club. Louis le Roux was the parkrunner who completed 315 parkruns.

Volunteers make parkrun happen and the organisers thanked the volunteers who included Pieter Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Christo Botha, Jannie Botha, Kobus Botha, Lorraine Botha, Rina Both, Ettienne Kotze, Lettie le Roux, Louis le Roux, Rikus Le Roux, Mykayla Lumley, Rose Makayi, Jackie Minnie, Cecile Moore, Dean Moore, Amelia Pretorius, Johann Reyeke, Keandrê Roberts, Melanê Roberts, Nalichia Roberts, Chris van der Merwe, Riaan Venter and Hennie Viljoen.

They also thanked and congratulated Celia Reyneke on joining the 250 Volunteer Milestone Club. She has volunteered more times than she has done parkruns.

First-timers Emmanuel Phiri, Ryan Vermeulen, Marko Grobler, Amily Obermeyer, Anel Grobler, Rossouw Grobler and Jayden Maritz were welcomed to the parkrun Secunda South Africa family.

Parkrunners who ran their personal best times are Clayton Schreuder 0:22:25, Michelle Horn 0:30:46, Leone Croukamp 0:31:30, Nadine Dunn 0:33:16, Mike Hanrahan 0:45:50, Aimee Van Der Stok 0:48:04, Ivan Van Der Stok 0:48:04, Natalie Zahringer 0:53:16 and Wessel Bonnet 0:53:40.

The first three women to finish were Nanette Behr, Michelle Horn and Leone Croukamp. The first three men to finish were Dirk van den Heever, Colin Louw and Kobus Roets.

The last parkrun number 385 of 2023 took place on December 30. During this event, 231 parkrunners walked, jogged and ran the 5km route.

First-timers Izanie Ferguson, Renesme Becker, Clayton Schreuder, Micalah Becker, Carmia Fulscher, Ruben Weideman, Brenda Le Roux, Zeldine Smit, Hugh Becker, Roxanne Becker and Chantelle Velthuizen were welcomed to the parkrun Secunda South Africa family.

Yolisa Kutyiswayo completed her 50th parkrun while Elsa Nursey (87) was the oldest parkrunner for this event.
She completed her 46th parkrun.

Parkrunners who ran their personal best times are Louis du Plessis 0:22:30, Tamlyn Stevens 0:23:05, Kelvin S’khumbuzo Shongwe 0:23:43, Nanette Behr 0:24:48, Thinus Prinsloo 0:25:00, Emma du Plessis 0:25:23, Annali Vermaas 0:27:56, Michelle Horn 0:31:15, Leone Croukamp 0:31:44, Nadine Dunn 0:33:48, Yolisa Kutyiswayo 0:36:42, Tarryn Tucker 0:43:05, Bubele Kutyiswayo 0:43:27, Du Toit Malan 0:43:49, Mike Hanrahan 0:46:24, Amor Louw 0:47:32, Annie Potgieter 0:50:10, Sam Heine 0:51:11, Jacqueline Booyzen 0:54:48 and Nyakallo Lentsa 0:57:27.

Minette van den Berg, Tamlyn Stevens and Danankia Lesch were the first three women to finish. Musa Timothy Mukansi, Rex Jefferies and Alfred Moloi were the first three men to finish in this event.