The 36th running of the Johnson Crane road running and walking event was held from Sahara Park Willowmoore on January 28 and attracted a record number of participants, again proving that the popularity of road running and walking continues to grow at a rapid rate in South Africa.
According to Ashvin Jivan, chairman of the organising club Benoni Harriers Athletic Club (BHAC), well in excess of 14 500 runners completed the colourful event and new time records were established and embedded in the history books of the race.
The 42km race attracted 5 600 runners, the largest number of participants to ever take up the Johnson Crane challenge.
The men’s 42km record was broken in a time of two hours, 20 minutes and 16 seconds by Rocky Road Runners’ Puleng Petrus Maeko, previously held by Charles Tjiane who achieved a time of two hours, 23 minutes and 46 seconds.
He was followed nine minutes later by Boxer Athletic Club’s Johannes Kekana and Nedbank Running Club’s Tebogo Lejaga.
Veteran Charné Bosman (Nedbank Running Club), women’s winner of the 2016 Comrades Marathon down run, was the first woman home in the marathon.
She stormed in to finish with a time of two hours, 54 minutes and 59 seconds.
Renata Vosloo of Sunninghill Striders was the runner-up with a time of three hours and 55 seconds followed by KPMG’s Rene Kalmer in third three minutes later.
In the shorter 21km half-marathon it was Lucky Mohale (Boxer) who arrived first at Willowmoore Park with a time of one hour, eight minutes and 21 seconds.
Bedfordview Country Club’s Donald Mashamaite (one hour, eight minutes and 34 seconds) and Lesiba Peu (one hour, nine minutes and 52 seconds) rounded off the top three men.
Salome Brits (Born 2 Run) was the first women runner home in the half-marathon (one hour, 26 minutes and 33 seconds) followed by Liziwe Mabola (Ampa Athletic Club) and Natalie Mullany (Born 2 Run).
Sibabalwe Gladwin Mzazi (Boxer) was the first man home in the 10km race with a time of 31 minutes and 15 seconds while Lebogang Phalula (also of Boxer) was the first woman home in the 10km race with a time of 35 minutes and 56 seconds.
“The Johnson Crane Marathon is certainly heading in the right direction and it remains our ambition and goal to reach out and make it inclusive for all running enthusiasts on the East Rand and further afield,” said Jivan.
“The scope and magnitude of the event is surely lending itself to be one of the highlights on the national sporting calendar.
“It is an event not to be missed in the future.
“BHAC extends our appreciation to all the residents and motorists along the route for displaying a high level of tolerance and patience with the runners and the event in general.
“As a result, no major incidents or accidents were reported.
“Our faithful sponsors Johnson Crane, Shereno Printers, the Eastern Cricket Union, Ekurhuleni metro, CMS Security and Event Companies provided terrific support and services.
“Mention must also be made of companies manning the watering stations, charity groups, food vendors, family and friends for their time, tremendous effort and dedication to the event.
“Our gratitude and appreciation must be extended to all the participants of the Johnson Crane Marathon, without you the event would not be possible.
“Finally, wouldn’t it be awesome if we could obtain full road closure status for the event in 2019?
“It would lend enormous recognition to the event and bring it on par with international standards.
“The Johnson Crane Marathon is very close to obtaining the IAAF bronze status which remains our ambition for the near future.”
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