WITH a spring in their step, close to 1 250 runners took to the streets surrounding Gateway in the KGB 10km Spring run and walk and the KGB Holdings 5km fun run and walk.
Lucky Madlala, running in Queensburgh Harriers won the 10km men’s race, finishing in a time of 33.33 and 18-year-old Sithembile Radebe won the women’s race in a time of 45.19.
Madlala was shadowed by Sibongiseni Ngcobo for 8.5km in the men’s race but the 19-year-old Ngcobo, who also ran in an 8km cross country meeting in Newlands that morning, ran out of steam, leaving Madlala to surge towards victory. He was followed by his club training partner and friend Innocent Nyawose, who ran his personal best in 10km sneaking in just under 34 minutes with a 33.57 to claim second place. Ncgobo’s sister, Radebe who also had 8km under her belt that day, ran a lonely race out at the front, dominating the women’s race, followed by Lisa Collett in a time of 47.23 and Yolanda Beeld with the clock on 48.17.
Both Madlala and Radebe were awarded with the hot spot prize, an award given to the first runner through the halfway mark. Radebe also scooped up the prize of first Junior.
In the 5km distance, Waterfall’s Bongumusa Mbatha representing Phantane Athletic Club and Boxer Athletic Club’s Daniella Arrigo from Umhlanga took the honours in the shorter race. Arrigo hunted down the fast paced Mbatha who specialises in 800m and 200m track events. The 14-year-old cross country athlete completed the run second overall in the co-ed race.
An enthusiastic race organiser, Anand Naicker from the host running club, Verulam Athletic Club said, “We could not have asked for a better event. It was a fantastic twilight run, the first of its kind in the area.
“The entire package, the multi-cultural entertainment at the finish, the ambience in the park, the eager runners and everyone assisting all played a magnificent part in the successful event. So much so that we have set the date for next year already. Diarise the 23 August 2014, same place!”
The course was a challenging run with a number of hills to tackle and corners to round with the start and finish at Chris Saunders Park in Umhlanga.
Umhlanga Hindu Society public relations manager and Fun Run convener Dr Suren Lutchminarayan said the objectives of the event was to encourage the youth and adults in our community and surrounding areas to participate in an event that promotes a healthy lifestyle; and as part of an on-going campaign to raise funds to complete the Universal Place of Worship and Spiritual Resource Centre in Somerset Park, Umhlanga.
