The second Freedom Day Run event, presented by the Kuruman Running Club (KRC), saw more than 300 participants show up on Saturday, 29 April.
This event, a Comrades Marathon qualifier with Absa as the main sponsor, had the Kuruman Primary School as starting point for the races. It incorporated Athletics Griqualand West’s (AGW) 21 km and 10 km championships, and a 4,9 km fun run.
In the 42,2 km, the overall winner is Simthembile Swarts in 2:20:08; second is Pule Hlabahlaba (2:21:43) and third Raoul Mabirimisa (2:21:53).
The first woman is Keitumetse Mongale in 3:55:21, second Pulane Pharasi (4:04:20) and third Gloria Ntshekang (4:10:15).
The winner and runners-up for the other distances are as follows:
21,1 km
Men: Tebogo Pooe (first in 1:07:34), Bakang Kgokong (second, 1:09:57) and Innocent Thameng (third, 1:11:43). Women: Sona Uys (first, 1:52:14), Izelda de Jager (second, 1:58:44) and Vernoa Oosthuizen (third, 1:58:52).
10 km
Men: Kamogelo Mokgatshane (first, 33:46), Boikanyo Tikologo (second, 33:48) and Katlego Comoleile (third, 33:52). Women: Kebogile Motshabi (first, 38:52), Joy Sebolai (second, 41:02) and Dimakatso Selala (third, 49:34).
The KRC, a registered non-profit organisation and affiliated under AGW, was formed in November 2017, said chairperson Kealeboga Choche. Based in Mothibistad, the KRC aims to give the community a sense of pride and provides a platform to socialise, keep healthy, learn from others, and improve running and walking pace during the club’s weekly time trials.
The KRC accommodates novice and experienced runners, and its main objectives are to promote the culture of running and exercising; as well as to foster, encourage, improve, control and manage the sport of promising runners. Choche said the KRC was formed by young, energetic, punctual, motivated and enthusiastic individuals who have the love and passion for running.
The recent event received praise from participants, and as one wrote: “Thanks KRC for organising the marathon, we ran, we sang, we laughed and we cried because we were exhausted from the challenging route, but most importantly we had so much fun.”
- Visit the Facebook page Kuruman Running Club for more photos and the full set of results.
