Dick King race just around the corner

A LARGE group of Toti Athletics Club members participated in Sunday’s Umgeni Water marathon at Midmar Dam.

The new route included a 18km dirt road section which garnered mixed reactions from the athletes. Toti AC members and family used the camping facilities on offer at the resort. The weather was warm and the weekend was enjoyed by all.

Ewoud Grobler was the first man home in a respectable 2.58 and Natalie was the first woman runner home. Well done guys.

Amanzimtoti AC performed exceptionally well at the weekend’s KZN sub-youth, youth and junior championship held at Kings Park in Durban. In total the club won nine gold, two silver and three bronze medals. It was a tough weekend of competition as it was combined with the KZN schools champs. Most of Toti’s athletes had to negotiate heats, semi-finals and finals on their way to a podium finish. It is difficult to highlight the best performances, but the top performers were Lee-Anne Blake, Wikus Herbst and Meliisa Nell who all won double gold medals. Lisha van Onselen slashed her personal best in the 1,500m by nearly nine seconds and Karl Terblanche had probably the toughest competition in the highly competitive junior men 100m. Dwayne Trollip continued to impress in the 400m, where the gold medal could have gone to any one of the top three. Anele Blake left the pack behind in a well judged 400m race. The club congratulates all its other athletes who didn’t make it to finals or the podium – they are proud of your performances.

The club extends big thanks to the coaches for their hard work and effort in supporting the club’s athletes. They are George Bradley, Riaan Vosloo, Tronel Nell and Len Young.

Best results from the weekend: Lee-Anne Blake sub-youth girls (first 1,500m – 4:43.20, first 800m – 2:19.58 ), Anele Blake sub-youth girls (first 400m – 61.28), Lisha van Onselen youth girls (first 1,500m – 4:42.71, third 3,000m – 10:49.61), Wikus Herbst youth boys (first 200m steeplechase – 6:20.72, first 800m – 1:56.14), Karl Terblanche junior boys (first 110m hurdles – 15.58, second 100m – 11.11), Melissa Nell youth girls (first javelin – 29.43m, first 400m hurdles – 70.82, second highjump – 1.50m), Dwayne Trollip youth boys (third 400m – 50.73, fourth 200m – 22.95).

Well done to the athletes who completed a tough local 50+km Comrades training run in fine style, in very difficult conditions on Sunday, 16 March.

With only two weeks to go before the Dick King race hosted by Toti AC, the race committee is hard at work preparing for the event.

Toti AC will host the Dick King race on Sunday, 30 March. The 21km run is at a cost of R70 and the 15km walk costs R60. This is a strictly pre-entry race.

Entry forms can be downloaded on www.totiac.co.za. Entries close is 21 March. T-shirts go to the first 700 pre-entries in the 21km run. The first 200 walkers will receive a medal for the 15km walk.

As all manpower is needed to make the Dick King race a success, no club member can run on race day.

The official helpers’ run will take place on Saturday, 29 March starting at Amanzimtoti main beach at 6am. Club vest and black shorts must be worn, and refreshments and water will be provided on the route. Members must give Chris names for logistics purposes.

With the Dick King race on Sunday, 30 March road users and motorists are asked to be aware of the runners. The race starts at Toti main beach, along Kingsway road into Doonside, through Warner Beach and into Illovo Beach and back to Toti main beach. Marshalls and Metro Police will be visible along the route.

Running is still a fairly inexpensive sport that is accessible to all, with no fancy equipment needed while it promotes a healthy lifestyle.

For any walker’s information, call Cornell on 083-643-0111083-643-0111.

Visit the website www.totiac.co.za for more information about Amanzimtoti Athletics Club. If you are a club member or plan to join the club, meet coach Cecil Clarke for training and advice about Comrades and ultra-marathons. Join his training group at Hutchison Park.