The bold move by the sponsors and Athletics South Africa (ASA) on Saturday, 29 August to put up time incentives for the Nedbank SA 10 kilometre Championships in Stellenbosch’s Coetzenburg stadium paid dividend as Stephen Mokoka ran seven seconds quicker than his personal best to clock 28 minutes 21 seconds.
As the national half marathon Champion, he was included into the team to contest the world champs in Birmingham, England in October and his time was important as a test for then. “I just came here to check if my training is going according to plan, I targeted a 28:40 time so this is brilliant. If everything goes according to plan at the worlds, I expect to run around 61:05.” the 24 year old professional from 600 village in Mafikeng explained.
From the gun he was in the lead recording 14:22 through the halfway mark but he left it to just outside the stadium to put in the decisive surge to relegate Tshamano Setone (Central Gauteng Athletics) and Lindikhaya Mthangayi (WPA) to the minor placing.
Mthangayi may well have been holding the silver medal had it not been for a momentary lapse in concentration when on the tartan of the famous Coetzenburg track he slacked and had to watch Setone whiz by to grab the silver with only a two seconds quicker time.
Patches don’t get much purpler than the one women’s winner Rene Kalmer is experiencing. The 28 year old former school teacher from Roodepoort has won no less than four top races in the last five weeks. Starting with the Spar Ladies race in Durban, followed by Foskor Richards Bay, then Spar Ladies Pretoria and then her third national 10 kilometre title.
“Titles don’t mean that much to me except if it comes with a significant win, I hate loosing.”
There may have been some team order amongst the Phalula twins, with Lebo getting away fast.
“We are team mates at CGA but Lebogang may have decided to watch me while her sister made a break to defend their national title, I only caught her at the 5km but from there it was relatively easy,” said the winner.
For the record Lebo Phalula (CGA) was second in 33:09 with Sharon Tavengwa (Nedbank) third in 33:31, but due to the fact that Tavengwa is not South African Lebogang Phalula (CGA) was elevated to the bronze position.
Road running results for the Nedbank SA 10km Championships:
Men
Seniors 1 Stephen Mokoka (AGN) 28:21; 2 Tshamano Setone (CGA) 28:22; 3 Lindikhaya Mthangayi (WPA) 28:24
Juniors 1 Sithyilo Diko (CGA) 29:45; 2 Shaun Zuzani (Nedbank) 29:54; 3 Jonathan Chinyoka (AKZN) 30:04
Veterans 1 Luketz Swartbooi (Temp) 29:53; 2 Greg Barnes (AGN) 31:44; 3 Reginald Ngobese (CGA) 31:52
Masters 1 Vladimir Kotov (WPA) 32:33; 2 Kosie Botha (Boland) 35:46; 3 Thomas Moses (Boland) 36:19
Grand Masters 1 Albertus Bock (WPA) 37:53; 2 Thamsanqa Jusayi (EPA) 38:19; 3 Jimmy Morris (WPA) 39:19
Women
Seniors 1 Rene Kalmer (CGA) 32:39; 2 Lebo Phalula (CGA) 33:09; 3 Sharon Tavengwa (Nedbank) 33:31
Juniors 1 Sylvia Tshetlanyane (CGA) 35:48; 2 Dominique Scott (Boland) 36:00; 3 Nandipha Dywili (MP) 36:03
Veterans 1 Michelle Bartman (WPA) 37:11; 2 Maya Lawrie (AKZN) 37:49; 3 Joanna Thomas (WPA) 37:50
Masters 1 Nancy Will (WPA) 38:53; 2 Olga Howard (WPA) 40:26; 3 Marietjie Ceronio (AVT) 40:44
Grand Masters 1 Sonja Laxton (CGA) 42:37; 2 Veronica van Niekerk (Boland) 44:48; 3 Pixie Sparg (WPA) 49:23
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