Mokoka runs world record time over 50km ultramarathon
The 10km loop on Marine Drive proved to be a fast stretch of road as Stephen Mokoka in the colours of Boxer Running Club crossed the finish line at 02:40:13 to become a world record title holder in what was his ultramarathon debut.
Once pacemaker and local Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality athlete, Melikhaya Fransm stepped off the road at 35km with his job done allowing for Mokoka to tear the field apart.
“Following the success of the first ultramarathon in 2021 and after months of planning, I put my neck out on the line to say that we would break a record for the second time, and that’s exactly what we did today,” said race director and Nedbank Running Club national manager, Nick Bester.
“We took the learnings from last year and ticked every box to make sure that all procedures and rules have been adhered to for our race to meet World Athletics standards.”
The women’s world record, which was set by Nedbank Running Club’s Irvette Van Zyl at the first Breaking Barriers race in 2021 was the target this year, but a fast start saw the record slipping away in the last 5km.
This is after both Van Zyl and Kenyan Shelmith Muriuki dropped back in the final stages allowing Nedbank running club teammate Amelework Bosho to take victory just outside the world record.
Her time of 3:04:58 just missed Van Zyl’s 3:04:24 world record clocking. With Muriuki in second and Van Zyl closing the podium in third, the Nedbank Running Club reigned supreme with a 1-2-3 finish female division.
“Today we witnessed world-class performances from our South African athletes. We are proud to incentivize them for their achievements. Nedbank remains a proud supporter of running and the success of Breaking Barriers has set a high benchmark of what the Nedbank Runified series stands for and what is to come,” said Nthabiseng Matshekga (Nedbank).
Behind Mokoka, the Nedbank running club duo of Tete Dijana and Edward Mothibi ran amazing races to finish second and third, all taking their share of one of the largest ultramarathon purses in South Africa. With five Nedbank running club athletes on the podium in the men’s and women’s races, Nedbank donated R10 000 to SADAG.
Between April and October Nedbank will host group runs across South Africa, and we encourage everyone to get involved. Sign up to the Nedbank Running Club on Strava for more information.
