50th Garbie/Striders Race takes place with a new route

Runners were not deterred by the cold and damp weather at the start of the 50th Garbie/Striders Race on Sunday morning.

The race had a new starting point this year on Gillespie Road and finished at Veritas Senior College.

The race, which also had a fun run/walk, is one of the oldest races in the country.

The winner of the women’s 32km race, Christine Kalmer, says she’s thrilled with her win and juggled her full-time job with training.

For Kalmer, the race was a chance to improve on her running times and she aims to conquer more marathons.

ALSO READ:

Runners invited to the 50th Garbie Race

“For the upcoming season, I’m focusing on the international marathons and hopefully qualifying for the Olympics.

“They can only select three and I’ll have to run a fast enough time to be in the top three,” says Kalmer.

Victor Gaonamong, the winner of the men’s 32km says, for him, his persistence and hard work paid off.

“It was my second time participating in the race and I came sixth last year.

“The win was something that I was expecting as I was training throughout December.

“I like the new route, it’s a little bit tougher compared to last year and I really enjoyed the race,” says Gaonamong.

There was also a record number of participants who finished the race.

• 15km – 875

• 32km – 1 055

• 5km – 200

• Tiny tots – 30

The winners for the various categories are:

15km race

Men

Open 1 Rirhandzu Rhangani (SAPS) 52:49; 2 Oscar Sixoka (Maxed Elite) 53:13;

Veterans 1 Isaac Mahlake (Gallopers) 56:17; 2 Duane Rabie (Run Zone) 57:49; 3 Thipe Moagi (Ulinda) 66:49

Masters 1 Moeketsi Moagi (Ulinda) 61:30; 2 Solomon de Beer (Benoni High) 64:36; 3 Eric Bergonzi (Boksburg) 68:33

Grandmasters 1 Stewart Romanis (RWFL) 80:53; 2 Colin Walter (Jeppe) 87:43

70+ 1 Pele Tshikundamalema (Nedbank) 72:57

Juniors 1 Cameron Tonkin (Benoni High) 67:21

Women

Open 1 Melissa Jansen van Vuuren (Nedbank) 62:08; 2 Thozama Godangwana (Temp) 62:21; 3 Mokoma Batji (RWFL) 64:41

Veterans 1

Maphuthi Phaka (Born 2 Run) 69:06; 2 Assallina Nyathi (Post Office) 75:02; 3 Gayle Macpherson (Run Zone) 81:00

Masters 1 Mariet Geyer (GNMA) 77:43; 2 Laura Venter (Nedbank) 81:36; 3 Petro Naude (RRW) 86:07

Grandmasters 1 Cathy Southey (RRW) 93:33

70+ None

Juniors 1 Naftileen Grobler (Highveld Pumas) 73:11

32km

Men

Open 1 Victor Gaomamong (Diepsloot) 1:55:52; 2 Stephen Caelers (Murray & Roberts) 1:58:09; 3 Emmanuel Magakwe (BCC) 1:58:43

Veterans 1 Siegfriedt Heydenrych (Murray & Roberts) 2:03:10; 2 Joel Nkadimeng (ACRSA) 2:07:00; 3 Robson Mazibisa (Temp) 2:10:45

Masters 1 Dieter Stapel (BNAC) 2:23:37; 2 Frans Rooibaadjie (Boksburg) 2:24:49; 3 Mshumayeli Tshabalala (SCAW) 2:30:29

Grandmasters 1 Keith Daly (GCH) 2:36:30; 2 Paul de Toit (Morningside) 2:40:19

70+ 1 Jabulani Ngwenya (Boksburg) 2:52:24

Women

Open 1 Christine Kalmer (Murray & Roberts) 2:10:29; 2 Carla Molinaro (Nedbank) 2:15:12; 3 Melinda Jansen van Vuuren (Massmart) 2:16:19

Veterans 1 Belinda Marais (Pirates) 2:30:47; 2 Tracey Letcher (RRW) 2:36:03; 3 Helena Oberholzer (Pirates) 2:36:59

Masters 1 Marie Bruwer (Arcelor Mittal) 2:44:50; 2 Disebo Thebapelo (Rand Water) 2:49:10; 3 Sarah Crooks (Randburg) 2:53:31

Grandmasters 1 Wilna Pretorius (PMK) 2:54:09; 2 Martine Garrioch (Midrand) 3:11:25