Nolene wins with new record

Nolene Conrad broke the 2012 women’s record to win the 15th Dis-Chem Half Marathon on Sunday.

The 1:17;08 record was set by Irvette van Zyl in 2012.

This year, the race was hosted by the Bedfordview Athletics Club. It started and ended at the Bedfordview Virgin Active.

The race took runners on a route through the suburb.

A member of the KPMG Running Club, Conrad finished with a time of 1:16;38. She came in 10 minutes after the men’s winner, Elroy Gelant.

Conrad said her performance was proof that her training is on course.

“This means a lot to me. I have been preparing for my upcoming races. Winning this one shows that I am in good form and that my training is going well,” she said.

She said she did not expect to win.

“I went out hard at the beginning but relaxed in the second half. I did not know I would do this well,” said Conrad.

She said she was preparing for the World Half Marathon that will take place on March 26 in Rio.

Men’s race

Boxer, athletic club runner and the 2013/2014 champion of the same race, Gelant said he had it in his mind that he may win the 2016 Dis-Chem Half Marathon.

“I had confidence to win it. From the start I wanted to win it. But I waited until the last 500 meters to out-sprint the second guy, Namakoe Lucky Nkasi,” said Gelant.

He said he is preparing for the world indoors event.

“My first race after this will be on February 6 in Belgium. All my preparations are in-line with the World Indoors, after that it will be the South African Championships then the Olympics,” he said.

Craig van der Westhuizen, from the Bedfordview Athletics Club, said about 5 300 athletes competed in this year’s Dis-Chem Half Marathon.

He said there were no major incidents reported on the day.

The Lambano Sanctuary received R44 900 and the Namaqua Dog and Donkey Foundation received R36 680 from the event.

Results:

 Men’s Open:

1 Elroy Gelant 1:06;14.

2 Namakoe Lucky Nkasi 1:06;19.

3 Desmond Mokgobu 1:07;39.

Men’s Veterans

1 Zongamele Dyubeni 1:11;21.

2 Gert Thys 1:12;38.

3 Action Ramaboea 1:14;39.

 Men’s Masters

1 Reform Ndlovu 1:22;16.

2 Solomon Khumalo 1:22;47.

3 Dan Mothibe 1:22;56.

 Men’s Grand Masters

1 Don Charles 1:35;27.

2 Motenehi Mjandana 1:42;43.

 Women’s Open

1 Nolene Conrad 1:16;38.

2 Jenna Challenor 1:20;29.

3 Yolande Maclean 1:24;35.

 Women’s Veterans

1 Michelle Kellock 1:34;09.

2 Helen Ibbotson 1:34;54.

3 Yonita Marto 1:39;35.

 Women’s Masters

1 Yvonne Laing 1:42;22.

2 Sarah Crooks 1:49;26.

3 Ansa Strydom 1:56;33.

 Women’s Grand Masters

1 Debbie Blake 2:01;37.

2 Glynis Mc Birnie 2:07;24.

 Junior Women

1 Robyn Clair Kaltenbrunn 1:34;40.