South Coast Striders conquer Hillcrest in club champs opener
With the 42km club championships now officially in the books, the Striders are looking forward to a record-breaking 2026.
The South Coast Striders officially set their 2026 season in motion last weekend, delivering a powerhouse performance at the Hillcrest Marathon.
For the Striders, this was more than just a race; the event served as the club’s official 42km club championships, and the local contingent certainly rose to the occasion.
The club demonstrated strength in numbers, fielding 18 runners for the 42.2km marathon and eight runners in the 21.1km half-marathon.
The race for the male club championships was a display of elite-level endurance.
Taking top honours was serial winner Peter Brino Chidzungu, who dominated the field to finish first overall in the 40-49 category with a blistering time of 2:30:26.
He was followed closely by the club’s 2025 standout, Terrence Cele, who secured the runner-up spot in the club standings and third overall in the 40-49 category with a time of 2:40:53.
Rounding out the men’s club podium was Sekelo Shude, who clocked an impressive sub-three-hour time of 2:58:52.
The excellence continued in the female club championships, where Jade du Toit (3:50:03) led the way for the Striders with a performance that earned her a spot in the overall race top 10.
The club podium was completed by Deborah Berridge (4:38:46) and Nellie Davies (4:44:38) , who secured the second and third-place finishes respectively.
Striders maintained a flawless 100% completion rate across the board. Of particular note were the four novices who successfully navigated the gruelling hills.
The successful debutants were Sekelo Shude (2:58:52), Timothy Woodley (4:22:17), Marc Lindsay (4:24:13) and Ryan Steyn (5:32:07).
Striders has seen a 25% increase in membership and as the club continues to grow, it is evident that the Striders are the premier destination for those looking to combine competitive spirit with a supportive running community.
TIMES
42.2km
Brino Chidzungu 2:30:26
Terrence Cele 2:40:53
Sekelo Shude 2:58:52
Wiseman Ncane 3:09:23
Jade du Toit 3:50:03
Christopher Mortimer 4:22:06
Timothy Woodley 4:22:17
Marc Lindsay 4:24:13
Yashiren Naidoo 4:29:29
Lennox Mtengwane 4:35:35
Vuyani Gqoboka 4:37:36
Deborah Berridge 4:38:46
Nellie Davies 4:44:38
Ronny Boshoff 4:47:36
Lynn van der Merwe 4:52:39
Wonder Zungu 5:18:00
Denise Loots 5:24:31
Ryan Steyn 5:32:07
21.1km
Nhlanhla Kusi 1:41:45
Michael Forshaw 1:48:00
James Clark 1:54:18
Keagin Herrmann 2:24:43
Cornia Niemann 2:29:44
Moira Jones 2:38:37
Deon Loots 2:41:13
Trevor Khumalo 3:02:54
