Mayor’s annual road race finds a place on the national athletics calendar

POLOKWANE – Athletes in the country and from neighbouring countries have started preparing for the Polokwane Annual Mayoral Road Race that will take place on May 16 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The Polokwane Annual Mayoral Road Race has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2011. Polokwane mayor, Thembi Nkadimeng, said the city was proud to announce that this race had found a place on the South African athletics calendar and was now part of the Limpopo Athletics Association (LIMA) and Athletics South Africa (ASA) activities.

The road race is also considered as a qualifying leg for the Comrades marathon. The race is organised in collaboration with the Polokwane Athletic Club and has in the past attracted athletes from all parts of South Africa and neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe, Kenya and Ethiopia.

“The fact that there is prize money totalling over R169 000 has been key in encouraging recognition and participation. Participants can take part in the 5 km fun run, 10 km and 21,1 km run and walk. All age groups are welcome to participate in the 5 km fun run while only those who are 15 years and above are eligible to participate in the 10 km and 21,1 km distances,” Nkadimeng explained.

She added that the objective of hosting the race was to position Polokwane as the sporting hub of Limpopo and in the long run attract investments that would grow the economy and reduce poverty and unemployment. It also aimed to encourage maximum participation in sports activities and the utilisation of the facilities available thereby stimulating the city’s economy, she said.

Nkadimeng said sports has been the biggest contributor to the executive mayor’s Bursary Fund through various partnerships that had benefited disadvantaged learners and other charitable organisations within the municipality. In 2014 this race attracted over 1 700 participants and more than 3 000 athletes were expected this year.

Athletes participated in the cluster road races during February and March which also proved to be successful. This was also done to encourage residents to take up running as part of their lifestyle as guided by Smart Living, one of the six pillars within the Polokwane Smart City Vision adopted by Council in 2014.

Well-known local athletes such as Ludwick Mamabolo, Rufus Photo and Betty Mashitisho participated in the cluster road races and were expected to be part of the fifth edition of the Polokwane Annual Mayoral Road Race.

“To ensure we continue on this path of community development, we have turned the ground in the construction of the stadium at Mankweng, which once complete will see it transformed from mere ground to a state-of-the-art facility that will improve the lives of the communities.

“We are also in the process of improving provision of sports facilities in Ga-Manamela and Molepo, Chuene and Maja to levels that would bring them to standards of those within the city area,” Nkadimeng said.

She further said the city appreciated and thanked its partners, Coca Cola, who would be on hand in terms of assisting in athletes to recover their energy with refreshment and the Polokwane Athletic Club for technical logistics arrangements.