Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) stalwart David Gamede recently won the inaugural Mpumalanga Marathon men’s grandmasters title in Nelspruit.
Gamede, who won the same category at the Comrades Marathon in June, clocked 03:08 to clinch the title. Such was his dominance that second-placed Abraham Mahlangu arrived at the finish 35:02 later after crossing the line in 03:43:02.
Johannes Nyalunga rounded-up the podium in 04:01:58.
The race, billed Africa’s richest marathon with a purse of R1m for the overall winners, attracted a large crowd of elite runners, including Comrades Marathon winner Bongumusa Mthembu and gold medallist Charles Tjiane, who were all gunning for the prize money.
In the end, it was Lesotho runner Jobo Khotoane and Ethiopian Tadu Nare who walked away with the huge paycheck after winning the men’s and women’s events.
Khotoane won the men’s title in 02:18:04 ahead of Nedbank’s Lucky Mohale, who clocked 02:20:45 for second place. Samuel Kalalei completed the top three eight seconds later after finishing the race in 02:20:53.
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Nare, who is gunning for the SPAR Women’s Challenge series title, clocked 02:37:20 to win the women’s race. Kenyan Shelmith Muriuki was second in 02:44:47 and Lesotho national Malineo Mahloko grabbed the bronze in 02:50:09.
In other races, the BAC’s Isaac Mokgola finished the Rand Water Vaal City Marathon on September 15 20th and sixth in the sub-veteran men’s category after clocking 02:46:20.
Felix Banda finished the race 63rd in 03:00:06.
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