Locals take marathons by storm

It was another busy weekend for Benoni and Boksburg road runners when they laced up their shoes for the Aquelle Joburg North City Marathon and Balwin Jeppe Marathon.

While some looked to book their Comrades Marathon spots in the 42.2km race, others simply wanted to maintain their fitness in the shorter distances.

Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) stalwart Rita van Wyk came first in her category during the Joburg North City Marathon in Randburg on February 10.

Van Wyk, who finished 49th overall in the women’s race, breasted the tape in 04:08:35 for first place in the women’s grandmaster category, beating second-placed Sarah Crooks and Val Watson, who rounded up the podium.

At the Jeppe Marathon in Bedfordview on February 11, Jane Nielson from Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) claimed a bronze medal in the women’s grandmasters category, finishing the race in 04:31:33 and her BAC counterpart, Teresa Peyerl, finished in fifth place.

The BNAC’s Bernice Piveteau was sixth in the women’s 50-59 category, and Bronwyn Strydom clinched the seventh spot in the veterans’ category.

In the men’s open race, David Monareng from BNAC was 13th after clocking an impressive 03:15:08, while the Daveyton Hearts’ Thabang Mawela finished three places behind Monareng.

Ronald Shiburi from Sunward Park-based Qhubeka AC was fourth in the men’s masters, and Wynard Strydom finished eighth in the same category.

Narisha Nana from Benoni Harriers completed the top five in the men’s grandmasters category.

Chad Lombard, from the BNAC, clocked 01:30:16 for the ninth spot in the men’s 21.1km, while Charlotte Venter from the BAC was sixth in the women’s 10km after crossing the line in 53:38.

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