VANDERBIJLPARK. – Local lass Rose Jijana, of ArcelorMittal Athletics Club, claimed top honors at the Rand Water Vaal River City Marathon on Sunday, September 3 by finishing the women’s 42.2km race in a time of 3:15:19.  The former Banyana Banyan football star a local resident of Bophelong was full of smiles during the prize giving that took place at the VUT Isak Steyl Stadium.

The men’s 42.2km race produced an epic battle which resulted in Puseletso Mofokeng (Boxer Athletics Club) winning the race in a record time of 2:19:58. It was the first time that any athlete finished the marathon in under 2 hours and 20 minutes. Samuel Sibeko also smashed the previous record in a time of 2:20:17 followed by Peter Muthubi (2:21:48) in third place.

The Rand Water Vaal River City Marathon is the first qualifying race for the 2024 Comrades Ultra Marathon and many athletes got this qualifying obstacle out of the way.