Women’s record falls at night race as thousands glow in the dark

Kempton Park resident Simonay Weitsz shattered the women’s 10km Benoni Northerns Night Race record on October 25 after cutting the tape in a stunning time of 37:08.

The 24-year-old ensured Kate van Jaarsveld’s 2022 record only stood for a year, slicing off a massive 2:02 from the Farrarmere resident’s remarkable 39:10 from last year’s race.

Dressed in the colours of the Tshwane University of Technology, Weitsz took advantage of the perfect conditions and averaged around 3:47 minutes per kilometre to win the race under 38 minutes and set a new women’s record.

“I feel good. This was actually a training run. I’m very happy to get a time like this in a training run. I love this race. Thanks to the organisers for a good race. I’ve been participating since I was young and every year it keeps getting better,” she said.

She explained she was training for next year’s World Athletics Cross-Country Championships in March in Serbia and the FISU World University Games.

This win was Weitsz’s second in two months after winning the women’s 4km event at the ASA national cross-country championships in September. She also obtained a bronze medal at the national track and field champs in March in the women’s 1500m after clocking 04:21 for third place.

“I’m grateful for a great season. Looking back at what I did, from representing my country at the World University Games, I got a bronze at the track and field nationals and won my first senior cross-country title last month. I’m grateful for how things are going at the moment. Hopefully, I can build on this one for next year,” she said.

Rockies top runner Farida Zwane finished 20 seconds behind Weitsz in 37:28 for the silver medal while Van Jaarsveld crossed the line in 39:43 for third place.

Men

The men’s 10km record of 31:00 which has been standing since 2005 almost fell as Kempton Park Athletic Club’s Donald Mashamaite only missed it by 25 seconds after breaking the tape in 31:25 to win the race.

The race started with last year’s winner Kamogelo Masemola setting the pace, but the Old Eds runner couldn’t withstand Mashamaite’s pace and eventually settled for fourth as East Athletic Club’s Kwanda Longoza finished in second place in 32:02 and Letsepa Madume clocked 32:07 for the bronze medal.

Mashamaite said if he knew about the men’s course record, he would have gone for it, adding he would return next year to attempt to break it.

“The race was okay, there were no problems. I enjoyed it. I’m having a good season. Since I started, I haven’t finished outside the top two. I’m coming back for the record next year,” he said.

Lubabalo Xoza, from Fitness For Africa (FFA), won the men’s 5km race while Trinity Henning and Zanta Lourens shared the first spot in the women’s race.

The event attracted over 1 800 entries and participants, dressed in colourful costumes and sporting headlamps, lined up on the course and glowed in the dark.

“That’s exactly what we achieved. The spirit and energy that was here tonight was unbelievable. Thank you to Benoni and all those who participated,” said the sponsor, Jan Jordaan.

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