Author: Tanika Laskey

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How Team SA Performed at The Paralympics on Wednesday

Tanika LaskeyFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on How Team SA Performed at The Paralympics on Wednesday

The Paralympic classification system can be tricky, and that was clear when Mpumelelo Mhlongo broke the world record in the T44 long jump at the Stade de France but still finished in fifth place. Mhlongo, who already held the world record at 7.07m, competed against athletes in the T62 and T64 classes. Mhlongo improved his own record to 7.12m.

On Wednesday, Team South Africa secured two more bronze medals at the 2024 Paralympics. Pieter du Preez, in the men’s H1 individual cycling time trial, and the wheelchair tennis quad doubles team of Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole, both came through in style to bring Team SA’s total medal count to four.

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS
Men’s Quad Doubles – BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
Team SA’s doubles duo, Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole, defeated their Brazilian competitors in three sets (6–2; 4–6; [10]–[8]) to win South Africa’s fourth medal — a bronze — finishing in third position overall.

PARA CYCLING ROAD
Men’s Individual Time Trial – H1 (FINAL)
Team SA’s Pieter du Preez secured South Africa’s third medal — a bronze — after finishing in third position.

PARA SWIMMING
Women’s 100m Freestyle – S12 – Heats
Team SA’s Alani Ferreira finished eighth in her morning heat. Unfortunately, her time was outside of the top eight fastest finishers, which would have qualified her for the final.

Men’s 50m Freestyle – S7 – Heats
Team SA’s Christian Sadie finished seventh in the evening final, setting a new African record. Christian qualified for the final after placing fourth in his morning heat with one of the eight fastest times.

PARA EQUESTRIAN
Individual Event – Grade IV (FINAL)
Team SA’s Philippa Johnson-Dwyer finished the competition in 14th position.

PARA ATHLETICS
Men’s Shot Put – F46 – FINAL
Team SA’s Kerwin Noemdo concluded the competition in fifth position.

Men’s Long Jump – T64 – FINAL
Team SA’s Mpumelelo Mhlongo set a new T44 World Record with a jump of 7.12m, placing him fifth in the T64 competition.

Women’s 100m – T37 – Round 1 Heats
Team SA’s Sheryl James finished third in her heat, earning automatic qualification for the Thursday morning final

How Team SA Performed at The Paralympics on Tuesday

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There were two African records in the pool but no medals for Team SA on Tuesday at the 2024 Paralympics. They remain on two medals heading into Wednesday, following Mpumelelo Mhlongo’s T44 100m gold and Louzanne Coetzee’s T11 1500m silver. There were three sports represented by Team SA on the day – swimming, athletics and boccia.

PARA SWIMMING
Men’s 100m Backstroke – S7
Team SA’s Christian Sadie finished 5th in the evening final after placing 3rd in his morning heat, recording one of the eight fastest times in the heats.

Women’s 50m Backstroke – S5 – Heats
Team SA’s Kat Swanepoel finished 6th in her morning heat, setting a new African record. Unfortunately, her time was outside the top eight fastest finishers, which would have qualified her for the final.

Men’s 200m Individual Medley – SM13
Team SA’s Nathan Hendricks finished 7th in the evening final, setting a new African record in the process. This was Nathan’s 4th final of the Paralympic Games, having qualified in 4th place in his morning heat with one of the eight fastest times.

PARA ATHLETICS
Women’s 200m – T64
Team SA’s Tezna Abrahams finished 5th in her morning heat, achieving a personal best. However, her position and time were not enough to advance her to the final.

Women’s 400m – T37 – FINAL
Team SA’s Sheryl James and Liezel Gouws finished 4th and 5th, respectively, in the Women’s 400m T37 final, a race in which two of the top three finishers (1st and 3rd place) achieved personal best times to secure their positions.

BOCCIA
Mixed Pairs – BC3 – Preliminary Round – Pool D
Team SA’s Elanza Jordaan and Karabo Morapedi lost 7–0 in their opening pool match against their Brazilian competitors, followed by a 10–0 defeat against the duo from Greece.

Nifty Bru Run Club is the next club featured on Run Crew Friday

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Run Crew Friday’s next club feature is ‘Nifty Bru Run Club’. We spoke to Keenan Hunn, the founder of Nifty Bru and asked him to give us a back story of how it all started. 


What Inspired You to Start Nifty Bru?
I took up running back in 2019 as a way to stay active, and I was hooked almost immediately. Exercise has always been a big part of my life, so getting into running felt natural. Over the years, as I got better, my passion for the sport deepened. Running changed my life, giving me the confidence to believe that I could achieve anything I set my mind to. I’d always dreamed of creating my own brand, and that’s how Nifty Bru was born—a social running club with a good vibe. My goal was to show new, young runners that running isn’t just a sport; it’s a lifestyle that benefits both your social life and your physical health.

Why Do You Keep Doing It?
I’ve always been a social person, so I wanted to create an environment where I could blend my love of socializing with my passion for running. There’s something special about sharing the positive experiences I’ve had with running with friends, family, and even strangers. I wanted Nifty Bru to be a place where people see running not as a chore or a punishment but as a fun, goal-oriented way of life.

How Did You Build Nifty Bru?
I’m lucky to have an amazing group of friends who share my enthusiasm for running. They’ve helped me spread the word about Nifty Bru, and our Social Runs have grown naturally through word-of-mouth. The community keeps expanding, and I’m excited to see where it goes from here.

What Advice Would You Give to Other Young Runners?
When it comes to social running clubs, there’s something special about enjoying a beer after a run—it’s like it tastes 100 times better, and there’s no guilt involved. Haha. But on a more serious note, if you’re a young adult or student looking to stay active, social running clubs are a fantastic way to combine exercise with socializing. It’s a great alternative to more traditional running clubs, which often come with fees and a more rigid structure.

Why Are Young Adults Flocking to Social Running Clubs?
Running has become increasingly popular among younger generations in recent years. For many, social running clubs offer the perfect entry point into the sport. These clubs provide a low-commitment way to see if running is for you, without the pressure of joining a traditional running club. Plus, with so many young people joining these social clubs, it’s a great way to meet like-minded individuals and make new friends while staying active.

Where Do You Get Your Training and Gear Advice?
At this stage in my running journey, I take my training seriously. I work with a coach who creates my training plans and offers advice. When it comes to running shoes, I used to rely on recommendations from sales assistants at shoe stores, but now I’ve started experimenting with different brands and styles. After some trial and error, I’ve finally found a shoe that works for me, and I’ve stuck with it ever since. 

If you’re looking to combine your love of socializing with a healthy, active lifestyle, Nifty Bru might just be the place for you. Come run with us and see how running can transform your life, too.

How Team South Africa Performed on Sunday

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How Team South Africa performed at the Paralympics on Sunday, 1 September 2024. 

PARA ATHLETICS 

Men’s 100m – T44 – Final
Star sprinter Mpumelelo Mhlongo kicked off Team SA’s medal count at the 2024 Paralympics in style—with a GOLD! On Sunday night, in front of a packed Stade de France, the men’s T44 100m world record holder crossed the finish line in 11.12 seconds to claim the top spot.

Women’s 1500m – T11 – Round 1 Heat
Team SA’s Louzanne Coetzee finished 2nd in her morning heat with a season’s best time, fast enough to qualify her for the Final.
She will compete in the Final on Monday, 2 September

Women’s Discuss Throw – F46 – Final
Team South Africa’s Yane van der Merwe faced a challenging day in the discus event, registering three failed throws for a “No Mark” result in her Paralympics appearance.

Men’s High Jump – T47 – Final
Team South Africa’s Khumo Pitso finished in 5th position with a New African Record jump of 1.98m in his first-ever Paralympics appearance.

Women’s Long Jump – T37 – Final 
Team SA’s Liezel Gouws finished 8th in the long jump event with a leap of 3.62m.
She will next compete in the T37 400m Final on Tuesday, 3 September.

Men’s 100m – T64 – Round 1 Heats
Team SA’s Paul Daniels finished 4th in his heat, setting a New African Record. Unfortunately, his time was just 0.01s outside the fastest times needed to qualify for the final.
He will next compete in the T62 400m Final on Friday, 6 September.

Men’s 100m – T64 – Round 1 Heats
Team SA’s Paul Daniels finished 7th in his heat, in a time that was, unfortunately, outside of the fastest times required to qualify for the final.
He next competes in the T62 400m Final on Friday, 6 September

Men’s 100m – T63 – Round 1 Heats
Team SA’s Puseletso Mabote won his heat with a time that equaled the Paralympic Record (12.05), qualifying for the Final on Monday, 2 September

PARA ARCHERY
Men’s Individual W1 1/8 Elimination Round & Quarter Final

Shaun Anderson’s 2024 Paralympics journey ended with a mix of pride and emotion at the Esplanade de Invalides. Competing in his third Games, the Team SA archer narrowly lost in the quarter-finals to China’s No.1 seed, Tianxin Zhang, 136-134, after an impressive upset against Turkey’s No.6 seed, Yigit Aydin, 133-132.

Reflecting on the experience, the 51-year-old said, “I couldn’t be prouder. Competing against the best in the world as the 34th-ranked archer is something special.” Shaun credited the crowd’s energy for pushing him through, joking about celebrating with a couple of beers later.

Despite the close loss, he’s not ruling out another shot at the Games, saying, “I don’t use the word ‘can’t.’ My hashtag is #i’mpossible. If you put your mind to something, you can do it.”

Who knows? We might just see him in Los Angeles in 2028.

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS
Men’s Singles – Second Round
Team South Africa’s Alwande Sikhosana was eliminated from the competition after a 1–6, 0–6 loss to his Japanese opponent.

Men’s Quad Doubles – Semi Final
Team South Africa’s doubles duo, Lucas Sithole and Donald Ramphadi, lost in two sets (1–6, 1–6) to their highly-ranked Dutch counterparts.
They will compete in the Bronze medal match on Wednesday, 4 September.

How Team South Africa Performed on Friday

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How Team South Africa Performed at the Paralympics on Friday, 30 August

PARA SWIMMING – Men’s 100m Backstroke – S13
Team SA’s Nathan Hendricks reached his second final in two days, finishing in 7th place overall with a time of 1:03.43, after qualifying in the morning heats with a time of 1:03.53.

PARA ATHLETICS 

Men’s 100m – T12 – Round 1 – Heat
Team SA’s Jaco Smit finished second in his heat with a time of 11.12s. Unfortunately, his time was outside the fastest finishers, which would have qualified him for the final.

Women’s 200m – T37 – Final
Team South Africa’s Sheryl James finished 7th in her race with a time of 29.08s

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS

Men’s Singles – First Round
Team South Africa’s Alwande Sikhosana celebrated his birthday with a two-set win (6-4; 7-5).

Men’s Quad Doubles – Quarter Final
Team South Africa’s Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole won their match in three sets (6-4; 6-7; [10]-[6]) to advance to the Semi-Final, where they will face the Number 1 seeds.

Women’s Doubles – First Round
Team South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane and Mariska Venter won their
match in three sets (4-6; 6-1; [10]-[4]).

BOCCIA

Women’s Individual – BC3 – Preliminary Round – Pool B
Team SA’s Elanza Jordaan went down fighting, with a 4-2 loss to Ana Costa, who is making her second appearance at the Paralympic Games (after Tokyo). Elanza officially scored her first points as a Paralympian in her second Pool B match.
She will play her final Pool B match on Saturday, 31 August.

Men’s Individual – BC3- Preliminary Round – Pool A
Team SA’s Karabo Morapedi went down 7-1 in his second Pool A match.
He will play his final Pool match on Saturday, 31 August.

Team South Africa’s performance at the Paralympic Games.

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Team South Africa’s performance so far at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

South Africa’s Ambassador to France, the Honourable Nathi Mthethwa, officially welcomed Team South Africa’s Paralympic athletes and officials to Paris – and wished everyone well for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

PARA ARCHERY – Men’s Individual W1 Ranking Round

Team SA’s Shaun Anderson delivered aseason-best score of 638 points (also his personal best in international competition), securing ninth place in the qualifying round. He advances to the 1/8 Elimination stage, where he will face Turkey’s Yigid Aydi on Sunday, 1 September

PARA SWIMMING- Men’s 100m Butterfly
Team SA’s Nathan Hendricks recorded his fastest times ever in competition, breaking the 60-second barrier twice in one day. He clocked 59.51 seconds in the heat, finishing 4th. His time of 59.91 seconds in the final earned him 8th place. Nathan will compete again on Friday, 30 August, in the 100m Backstroke

BOCCIA – Men’s Individual – BC3 Preliminary Round – Pool A
Team SA’s Karabo Morapedi made history as South Africa’s first-ever Boccia Paralympian when he faced Australia’s Daniel Michel. Karabo lost 10-2 in his opening match despite a strong start.
He will compete again on Friday, 30 August

BOCCIA – Women’s Individual – BC3 Preliminary Round – Pool B
Team SA’s Elanza Jordaan also made her official debut as South Africa’s first-ever Women’s Boccia Paralympian, facing Yuen Kei Ho. Elanza was defeated 8-0 by her more experienced opponent, who is competing in her third Paralympic Games.
Elanza will be back in action on Friday, 30 August

 

Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series to deliver a thrilling 2024 finale in Joburg on Heritage Day

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The streets of Jozi are set to come alive with athletic energy and community spirit on Tuesday, 24 September 2024, as thousands of runners gather to participate in one of the city’s most iconic Heritage Day celebrations, the iconic Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K.

“The final event in a series of five, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K is set to turn the streets of Jozi into a sea of red,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “Participants can look forward to a day filled with exciting racing and an engaging on-route experience. The atmosphere at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is unparalleled, featuring energetic sponsor activations such as the Absa High 5 Zone, the exhilarating PUMA FOREVER FASTER 100 Sprint, the vibrant Chery Cheer Zone, revitalizing Coca-Cola hydration stations, and the lively Castle Lite Zone and AVIS Mobility Zone to mention just a few. This year, we’ve introduced new activations that Joburg runners are guaranteed to love. Be sure to get some awesome selfies at the ‘Unicorn Razzle Dazzle‘ activation, ‘Luminous Legends,’ and ‘Love for Local,‘ among others. Each on-route activation will embody the vibrant spirit of Joburg and promises to create lasting memories at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K in 2024. We can’t wait to #RunYourCity with you on Heritage Day.”

Jabulile Nsibanyoni, the Head of Sponsorships at Absa, expressed excitement for the entertainment lined up along the Joburg race route. She highlighted Absa’s commitment to crafting memorable community experiences, with the event which is set to showcase Joburg’s rich diversity and heritage. “The entertainment along the route is designed to spotlight the city’s distinctive traditions and essence, providing participants and onlookers with a vibrant array of cultural performances to relish”.

“We look forward to introducing the new PUMA FOREVER FASTER 100 sprint to the dynamic streets of Joburg,” says Rae Trew-Browne, PUMA Run Train Marketing Manager. “This activation is designed to ignite runners’ competitive spirits and push them towards setting new PBs.”

To add an extra layer of motivation, PUMA is offering in-store discount vouchers for participants in the PUMA FOREVER FASTER 100 sprint section: a 30% discount for those who sprint under 15 seconds, a 20% discount for under 20 seconds, and a 15% discount for under 25 seconds.

“This added incentive is meant to challenge runners to push their limits and achieve their best. Save some energy for the final stretch, where the PUMA FOREVER FASTER 100 sprint awaits,” adds Trew-Browne.

According to Mr. Tony Liu, Executive Deputy GM of Chery South Africa, Chery is excited to elevate the experience of the final event of the 2024 series.

The excitement begins with the much-anticipated Chery Tiggo 4 Pro LiT draw, where every entrant stands a chance to win this sleek vehicle.

“We look forward to welcoming another runner into the Chery family at this event,” says Liu. “But the excitement doesn’t end there; our Chery Cheer Zone on the route is designed to uplift and energize runners as they make their way to the finish line. Participants can expect a memorable experience that reflects Chery’s commitment to fostering active and healthy communities. We look forward to cheering on all the runners as they take on this iconic race in the vibrant city of Joburg.”

Course records for Xaba and Mofolo at Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K

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South African 10km sensation Glenrose Xaba delivered a career-defining performance at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K, blazing through the course in a remarkable 31:51. This marks her third sub-32-minute finish this year, solidifying her status as one of the country’s best elite women of all times.

The 29-year-old, who set a new SA 10km record of 31:12 when she took fourth place at last month’s Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K, lived up to her pre-race favourite tag as she surged away from Neheng Khatala at the 7km mark to a memorable victory that was the fastest by a South African woman at altitude.

“I’m very happy about today’s win. I have faced so many ups and downs throughout my career, but I have managed to rise above it all. This year, God has blessed me so much and I’m very thankful for that,” explained Xaba.

For running the second fastest 10km time of her life, the Boxer Athletics Club top runner was rewarded with a new course record which is a 23 second improvement on the mark set by the 2023 champion Debash Desta of Ethiopia. Lesotho’s Blandina Makatisi was good value for her second-place finish (32:58) two weeks after completing the Olympic Marathon, while her countrywoman Khathala earned the last podium position in 33:35.

Having won the 5000m, 10 000m, 10km and 21km titles this year, Xaba says today’s victory is a testament to the hard work and dedication she has put into her training. 

“I always pray and I’m grateful with what I have achieved so far,” says Xaba. “So to win one of the Absa races is a dream come true. I think it’s because I focus a lot. I don’t skip training even when I’m tired. I just go easy and get the recovery all the time. I’m glad that I have a good system (Power2Health) that supports me and keeps me very well in order to stay injury free.”

The men’s race also saw a new course record as Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo stopped the clock in 28:40 to win the race on debut and shatter the course record of 29:12 set by Kabelo Mulaudzi last year. Mofolo clawed back a nine second deficit held by early leader Gideon Kipgnetich of Kenya who followed him home two seconds later with the defending champion Mulaudzi finishing third in 28:52. In what was his first major triumph on South African soil, the Maxed Elite runner who took tenth place at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in a personal best 28:33 said his challenging training routes in The Mountain Kingdom prepared him for victory.

“The course worked in my favour because I train on hilly routes in Lesotho,” confirms Mofolo. “So my body is used to going up and down which is why I could run well. I didn’t struggle at all.”

“What an amazing day at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K! Huge congratulations to Kamohelo Mofolo and Glenrose Xaba for their incredible achievements today – you really brought your A-game,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “A special shoutout also goes to the thousands of casual runners who embraced the spirit of the event, turning it into a true celebration of fitness and community. And of course, this event wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of our sponsors, whose commitment helped make the day unforgettable. Together, we showcased the best of Tshwane. Up next is the grand finale of the series—the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on National Heritage Day. We invite all runners to join us for an unforgettable season closer!”

 “We applaud all participants of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K for their dedication in contributing to our cause of pledging R1 for every kilometre covered by a Team Absa member on Strava. A big congratulations to the deserving winners for their outstanding commitment and resilience. Witnessing individuals from various walks of life reaching personal milestones has been incredibly inspiring,” remarked Jabulile Nsibanyoni, Absa’s Head of Sponsorships, Brand, and Marketing. “The heartfelt stories shared have not only touched us deeply but have also sparked a new level of motivation within our team. We express our profound gratitude to our colleagues, volunteers, partner sponsors, and organizers for their unwavering support, which has yet again made this event truly exceptional.”