It was 4am on January 26 when runners from all over South Africa started to gather around Willowmoore Park Stadium for the Johnson Crane Marathon.
Eliud Biwott, from Kenya and the Nedbank Running Club, took the gold with a time of 02:21:12, leaving second place for Given Baloyi (02:28:45), from the Carlton Athletic Club, and third place for Gladwin Mzazi (02:29:07), from the Boxer Athletic Club.
There was an outstanding amount of runners at the starting line – for the 42.2km/21.2km there were about 9 500 entries, the 10km attracted 2 300 entries and the 5km 1 500 entries – which, in turn, had Woburn Avenue buzzing with excitement and anticipation.
The marathon is in its 38th year and the event has grown from being a club event to the community of Benoni and Boksburg getting involved and making it one of the East Rand’s most iconic marathons on the sporting calendar.
It is held on the last Sunday of January every year.
Before the first race began, thousands of eager participants sang the national anthem, leaving everyone watching, running or walking in absolute awe, before ending the anthem in prayer.
Another successful marathon leaves plenty of history on the streets of Benoni again, considering the fact that the marathon was started in the ’80s mainly to promote road running.
Participants who were there to run their first, second or third Johnson Crane Marathon were all filled with nerves, excitement and determination.
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“This marathon is the longest-sponsored marathon of its kind as far as I am aware,” said Ashvin Jivan, the race director for the last 20 years.
Johnson Crane Hire has been the race sponsor for 38 years and Shereno Printers, a local company, has been their print sponsor for the last 20 years.
Both the main sponsors have given Benoni Harriers Athletic Club longevity, as they pride themselves on being a family club and delivering quality races.
A number of other partners contributed to the event and were thanked, namely the Ekurhuleni metro, SAPS, Easterns Cricket Union, Strictly Signs, CMS, Pro Brake and Clutch, Profix Scaffolding, Nanas Sports, Venom Sports, Peak Timing and new addition to the sponsor family Leroy Merlin.
