Returning to Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela for the second year, the fifth leg of the Toyota Warrior race saw participants of all fitness levels gun for glory this past weekend. Just over 1 000 athletes did so across gruelling new obstacles for a day of adrenalin-pumping action and epic family fun.
The day, however, belonged to Black Ops Elite racers Claude Eksteen and Nadene Cahill, who proved, once again, why they deserve their place among the OCR greats. In the high-action men’s Black Ops Elite race, Eksteen, 2019 SA OCR Champion, stormed to the finish line ahead of Armin Botha, who finished second, and Tian Basson, SA OCR runner-up who took third place and local Laerskool Bergland teacher, to be victorious by a margin of 34 seconds ahead of Botha and two minutes and 42 seconds ahead of Basson.
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In the women’s Black Ops Elite race, SA OCR Women’s Champion, Cahill (AirTeam) took the podium by a whopping margin of 10 minutes 59 seconds ahead of teammate Trish Eksteen (AirTeam) and Sabrina Daolio, who took third position, 13 minutes and 22 seconds behind Cahill.
In the Commando Elite men’s race, a 10- kilometre 22-obstacle course, Johardt Van Heerden took first place (49:33), Nelius Swart came in second (51:58) and Calen Hastie took third place (52:00). The women’s race was won by Sammy Nel (1:04:01), while Vyvekah Lumley (1:15:40) was second, and taking third place was Elma Kemp (1:17:35).
The shortest and most fun-packed race of the day, the Rookie, saw young athletes crawling, climbing and jumping through the course. The Rookie Elite men’s podium finishers were Ricardo Rebelo (34:33), Cayde de Waal (36:14) and Alwyn Deetlefs (41:49), coming in first, second and third respectively.
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In the women’s elite race, Ashley Button (44:42) took gold, Megan van Tonder (49:02) took silver and bronze went to Claire Denton (1:56). The event also saw little adventurers experience the specifically designed onekilometre, eight-obstacle course and exercise their bodies and minds to #BeMore, because it is never too early be a Warrior.
The results were as follows:
Men
1. Claude Eksteen – 01:21:11
2. Armin Botha – 01:21:45
3. Tian Basson – 01:23:53
Women
1. Nadene Cahill – 01:38:20
2. Trish Eksteen – 01:49:19
3. Sabrina Daolio – 01:51:42
Men
1. Johardt van Heerden – 00:49:33
2. Nelius Swart – 00:51:58
3. Calen Hastie – 00:52:00
Women
1. Sammy Nel – 01:04:01
2. Vuvekah Lumley – 01:15:40
3. Elma Kemp – 01:17:35
Men
1. Ricardo Rebelo – 00:34:33
2. Cayde de Waal – 00:36:14
3. Alwyn Deetlefs – 00:41:49
Women
1. Ashley Button – 00:44:42
2. Megan van Tonder – 00:49:02
3. Claire Denton – 01:00:56.
For the full results of Toyota Warrior #5, visit www.jumpertrax.com.
