Malobola conquers Slow-Mag Marathon

Just under 5 000 road warriors from all corners of the country gathered at the Benoni Northerns Sports Grounds for this ever-popular event.

Maxed Elite runner Vusi Malobola produced a commanding performance to win the 42km main event at the Slow-Mag Marathon.

He managed to keep a healthy lead for most of the run to finish ahead of second-placed Bongani Possa of Discovery and Sibanye Gold runner Potso Khomo.

Malabola finished the marathon in a time of two hours, 31 minutes and three seconds.

The runner was also the winner of BNAC’s Rowlin National Night Race 15km in November, last year.

The top open women finisher in the 42km marathon was Born 2 Run’s Ann Ashworth who finished in a time of three hours, 19 minutes and four seconds ahead of Enie Molatseli (City of Ekurhuleni) and Lizzy Zulu (SAPS).

This year saw the third running of the 50km ultra marathon and 500 athletes took on this tough challenge.

It was Nedbank Running Club’s Elias Mabane who stormed home to win the 50km race in a course record time of two hours, 59 minutes and one second.

He was followed by fellow Nedbank runner Reuben Maapola and Germiston Callies runner Thulani Magagula.

Born 2 Run’s Avril Halstead was the best open women finisher in the 50km race with a time of four hours, seven minutes and 23 seconds.

Airports Company runner Thabang Mafa was the quickest to finish the 10km race while Olifanstfontein Running Club’s Lucky Mthali claimed victory in the 21km race in a time of 70 minutes.

According to Jan Jordaan of BNAC this year’s race attracted fewer runners than 2013’s Slow-Mag Marathon citing the public holiday as one of the

possible reasons for this decline.

Despite this Jordaan said that the overall event went well and that the club received some good compliments for their organisation of the race.

Full results from the 10km, 21km, 42km and 50km races:

10km

Men

Open 1 Thabang Mafa (Airports Company) 33:06; 2 Sifiso Ngcobo (Ubuhle) 34:16; 3 Mahlatse Makoasha (Benoni High) 34:17

Women 1 Michelle Strydom (UJ) 41:08; 2 Daniella Meyer (Boksburg) 44:18; 3 Dianne Kruger (New Balance) 44:33

21km

Men

Open 1 Lucky Mthali (Olifantsfontein) 70:00; 2 Ludwick Mamabolo (Nedbank) 70:46; 3 Andries Masoeu (Maxed Elite) 71:22

Veterans 1 Sipho Ncube (Maxed Elite) 75:12

Masters 1 Jerry Rankapule (Gallopers) 87:59

Grandmasters 1 Anton Reynders (Kempton) 1:44:30

Walkers 1 Lebeauf von Benecke (RWFL) 1:49:03

Women

Open 1 Adoneche Beyehe (Nedbank) 85:38; 2 Salome Cooper (Toyota) 87:29; 3 Maphuti Phaka (Born 2 Run) 90:13

Veterans 1 Marlene Venter (Boksburg) 1:42:09

Masters 1 Mariet Greyling (Benoni High) 1:42:43

Grandmasters 1 Virginia Augustin (RAC) 1:57:05

42km

Men

Open 1 Vusi Malobola (Maxed Elite) 2:31:03; 2 Bongani Possa (Discovery) 2:32:01; 3 Potso Khomo (Sibanye Gold) 2:37:26

Veterans 1 Hector Mahlangu (Cool Running) 2:40:23

Masters 1 Bernard Mosala (Carlton) 2:55:23

Grandmasters 1 Stephen Moagi (Chamber) 3:25:21

Women

Open 1 Ann Ashworth (Born 2 Run) 3:19:04; 2 Enie Molatseli (City of Ekhuruleni) 3:19:24; 3 Lizzy Zulu (SAPS) 3:26:29

Veterans 1 Marie Scholtz (RWFL) 3:37:40

Masters 1 Ansa Strydom (New Balance) 3:36:48

Grandmasters 1 Klippies van Rooyen (Randburg Harriers) 4:49:26

50km

Men

Open 1 Elias Mabane (Nedbank) 2:59:01(course record); 2 Reuben Maapola (Nedbank) 3:03:47; 3 Thulani Magagula (Germiston Callies) 3:08:42

Veterans 1 Elias Mabane (Nedbank) 2:59:01

Masters 1 Mike Forshaw (RWFL) 4:00:29

Grandmasters 1 Johan Jonck (Hi-Midas) 4:29:14

Women

Open 1 Avril Halstead (Born 2 Run) 4:07:23; 2 Thuli Mbataha (Kathlehong) 4:13:56; 3 Lindsey van Aswegen (MAD Multisport) 4:16:26

Veterans 1 Thuli Mbataha (Kathlehong) 4:13:56

Masters 1 Judy van Dyk (Alberton) 5:34:05

Grandmasters 1 Petra Myburgh (Striders) 5:59:58