Change a Life Academy athletes excel at marathon

MEMBERS from Martin Dreyer’s Change a Life Academy were ecstatic after they competed and performed admirably at the recent Mandela Day Marathon events.

The event was to honour the life and work of South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela. The Mandela Day Marathon MTB Dash and Mandela Day Trail Run were both inspirational races for the group of young Change a Life stars.

“The Mandela Day races really excited our team as it is an event that has true meaning for them,” said the Change a Life founder, Martin Dreyer. “All of them felt as if they were racing for Madiba, which was a privilege and an honour.”

On the mountain biking front, Sthembiso Masango narrowly missed out on sixth place in the 42km feature race. “Sthembiso really rode nicely and it was fantastic to see him in the mix with some of the province’s top guys the whole way,” said Martin.

“He’s very focused, trains extremely hard and is riding better than ever at the moment, so it was great to see him get such a good result and we look forward to seeing how he and the rest of our MTB team go at Hill2Hill in September.”

Also tackling the 42km MTB race, Ndumiso Dontso and team mate Mazwi Smimango finished twelfth and thirteenth respectively. Sipho Kupiso, Bongumusa Zikhali and Sizwe Mkhabise all finished in the top 30.

In the 21km clash, Mboneni Ngcobo successfully defended his crown. “He also said afterwards that taking part in and winning this particular race made him proud to be African.”

Like their cycling team mates, the Merchants-supported runners also rose to the occasion as Phaka Gwala, Siyabonga Ngcongo and Thulani Skhakhane finished inside the 8km race’s top ten.

Mthobisi Mvelo and Mxolisi Zondi claimed the top two steps of the 4km event’s podium while the CAL paddling ambassadors, Sbonelo Khwela and Banetse Nkhoesa, finished in thirteenth and fifteenth place respectively in the 15km challenge.