Runners plunge down the kloof
Runners from across Limpopo and Gauteng took on the Makgobaskloof Plunge marathon and half-marathon, presented by the Haenertsburg Rotary Club, on Saturday morning.
About 200 runners braved the heat to complete this challenging route from Haenertsburg to Tzaneen. Tebogo Pulusa took first place overall, crossing the finish line with 2:23:10 on the clock. Timothy Munzhelele took second place with a time of 2:29:15 and Lucky Mohale took third place overall. Monique Smit was the first woman to cross the finish line in the marathon distance and she completed the race in 3:30:32. Joyce Netshintenshe took second place and Mogatji Mafafo took third place in the women’s category.
From Tzaneen Marathon Club Ntateko Ndlala, Busisiwe Nyabana, Selaelo Sekoto, Barry Baragwanath and Chandré Heyns completed the 42.2km. Nyabana took fifth place in the 40 to 49 age group and finished ninth overall in the women’s race with her time of 4:43:53. Sekoto took tenth place overall in the women’s race and took sixth place in the 40 to 49 age group. Greta Bekker from Le Club Tzaneen took eighth place in the women’s category and second place in the 60 to 69 age group.
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Samuel Ntsanwisi from Nkowankowa Athletics Club took 15th place overall and eighth place in the men’s open category. In the 21.1km race Kamogelo Mnisi took first place with a time of 1:08:40. Issea Moshia took second place crossing the finish line twelve seconds later. Rufus Photo was in third place with a time of 1:08:51. Rosaline Isaiah from Kenya won the women’s division of the half-marathon, crossing the finish line with 1:27:48 on the clock.
Anna Maponya took second place and Lerine Kruger took third place. A total of 18 runners from Tzaneen Marathon Club completed the halfmarathon. Thomas de Wet, Nadia Claasen, Shin Mabunda, Izak Claasen, Michael Viljoen, Angelique Coetzee, Celia Loubser, Ankia Botha, Marlien Erasmus, Samantha Mahayi, Shirley Mathonsi, Lilize Erasmus, Corné Fritz, Gavaza Mushwana, Hercules Erasmus, Bianca Kirton, Anna Malomane and Vongani Musa all collected medals for finishing the race. Local runners, Daneke Coetser, Anzette Pohl, Cecillia Freiheur von Houwald, Leandri Coetzer and Stephani Coetzer also completed the half-marathon.
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Clemence Mupopa, Moyagabo Mohale, Regina Nukeri and Elizabeth Mkhosana from Nkowankowa Athletics Club also completed the half-marathon. The Haenertsburg Rotary Club thanked their sponsors: Talisman Hire Polokwane, Tzaneen, Discovery Health, Letaba Citrus Processors, Lannie Motors, BB Ford Tzaneen, Allegraine Dairy, Premjee Cash and Carry Tzaneen, Lowveld Labels, Graham/Wiltshire Farming, Amorentia Estates and Nursery and Neville Ndlala who provided the sound system.
Results:
Men 42.2km
1. Tebogo Pilusa (2:23:10)
2. Timothy Munzhelele (2:29:15)
3. Lucky Mohale (2:35:35)
4. Modibe Mamabolo (2:35:37)
5. Ramaketse Lekaka (2:38:15)
Women 42.2km
1. Monique Smit (3:30:32)
2. Joyce Netshitenzhe (3:33:35)
3. Jacqueline Mafafo (3:46:02)
4. Jone Mudau (4:05:23)
5.Rethabile Gumede (4:12:16)
Men 21.2km
1. Kamogelo Mnisi (1:08:40)
2. Issea Moshia (1:08:51)
3. Rufus Photo (1:08:54)
4. Given Makgoba (1:09:44)
5. Request Msapha (1:11:56)
Women 21.1km
1. Rosaline Isaiah (1:27:48)
2. Annah Maponya (1:34:01)
3. Lerine Kruger (1:40:18)
4. Nadia Claasen (1:43:51)
5. Anzette Pohl (1:45:34)
