The Northern Cape road running year came to an event held in Postmasburg on Saturday, 16 November.
Joel Mmone powered away from Desmond Mokgobu over the second half of the 21 km event to claim victory at The Great Kolomela Iron Road Race.
The Nedbank athletics club athlete and Wobukaosi Tshuma were the big winners as they took the men’s and women’s titles respectively over the half marathon distances.
Mmone won the men’s half marathon in a time of 1:05:53, almost three minutes ahead of Desmond Mokgobu (1:08:25) with Tete Dijana in 1:09:27 to claim third place.
The women’s 21,1 km was won by Tshuma in a time of 1:21:29 with Rudo Mhonderwa second (1:25:37) and Slindile Chili third (1:27:05) .
In the men’s race Mmone and Mokgobu of the Olifants Athletic Club matched each other over the first few kilometres and went through the 8 km split together in a time of 23:37.
However, soon after that Mmone turned up the power and by 15 km had opened up a small, but significant gap, which quickly grew as the pair raced back to the finish at the Postmasburg showgrounds.
Dijana was closing in on Mokgobu over the last kilometres, but had left himself with too much to do when he allowed the two leaders to slip away early in the race.
In the women’s half marathon, Tshuma was never seriously challenged as she quickly established an advantage over her nearest challenger and her biggest challenge became a battle for a top 20 finish as she eased her way past the fast-starting rabbits to finish 19th overall.
The battle for the minor placings in the women’s race was relatively uneventful as Mhonderwa and Chili settled for second and third early in the event.
In contrast, the battle for the women’s victory in the 10 km provided plenty of excitement with Catherina Skosana just outsprinting Siphokazi Diko at the finish line.
The pair were credited with the same time of 36:39. Kebogile Motshabi was third in a time of 37:16.
The men’s 10 km was almost as close with Thabang Mosiako edging out Mathews Leeto by just 11 seconds. Mosiako’s time was 27:44 with Jacob Malefo taking third in 28:48.
The 5 km winners were Jerry Motsau and Anna Moeketsi.
The leading results are as follows:
- Male, 21.1 km:
1. Joel Mmone, 1:05:53
2. Desmond Mokgobu, 1:08:25
3. Tete Dijana, 1:09:27
4. Rabson Chigara, 1:09:56
5. David Manja, 1:11:17
- Female, 21.1 km:
1. Wobukaosi Tshuma, 1:21:29
2. Rudo Mhonderwa, 1:25:37
3. Slindile Chili, 1:27:05
4. Paulina Njeya, 1:32:18
5. Tabitha Tsatsa, 1:35:18
- Male, 10 km:
1. Thabang Mosiako, 27:44
2. Mathews Leeto, 27:55
3. Jacob Malefo, 28:48
4. Thuso Dintwe, 29:37
5. Frik Guys, 29:48
- Female, 10 km:
1. Catherina Skosana, 36:39
2. Siphokazi Diko, 36:39
3. Kebogile Motshabi, 37:16
4. Justine Thole, 37:56
5. Lindiwe Khumalo, 38:09
- Male, 5 km:
1. Jerry Motsau, 15:59
2. Coolboy Naamoie, 16:02
3. Jonas Soke, 16:36
4. Moselakwe Matshailwe, 16:38
5. Kabelo Motsamai, 17:47
- Female, 5 km:
1. Anna Moeketsi, 20:50
2. Maphuti Phaka, 23:24
3. Amantle Badala, 24:30
4. Mia Ekkerd, 24:35
5. Malebogo Sekhutlo, 27:02
