Category: News

The fact that the South African athletics season is out of sync with the international calendar is a major problem in local athletics.

Danie Cornelius (Tuks Athletics Manager), who has been elected as Chairman of the Track and Field Commission of Gauteng North Athletics, is fully aware of it.

“It is time that we as sports administrators should realize that sport should be about the athletes. With apologies to the late John F. Kennedy, we should not ask what our athletes can do for us as administrators but rather what we can do for them. If we want our athletes to be successful we need to get in line with what is happening internationally,” Cornelius said.

“That is why I will, for the first time, allow the province’s top athletes who represented South Africa at the World Championships in Beijing to decide for themselves whether they want to compete in any of next year’s league meetings or the provincial championships.

“In the past athletes were compelled to participate at the provincial championships in order to be selected for the South African Championships. I think we put our athletes at a disadvantage when we expect them to start competing in February and to peak at the provincial championships and then again at the South African Championships.”

“I am also not going to force Akani Simbine (Tuks/HPC), joint SA record holder in the 100 metres (9.97s), to represent the university in the Varsity Cup Series meetings. At the most he might be part of the relay team. Luckily there are so many good sprinters at Tuks that we can afford to rest him.

“We made a big mistake in 2014 by expecting Akani to represent Tukkies at all the Varsity Cup meetings, as well as at the South African Student Championships and the National Championships.

At most of the meetings he raced the 100 metres as well as the 200 metres and sometimes the 4×100-relay as well. As a result he was totally over-raced when his international season started.”

“I will be honest. If Akani should qualify for the 100-metre final at the Games it will mean more to the University than if he should win a race at the Varsity Cup meeting or the South African Student Championships. Actually the same goes for all the province’s top athletes. It is time that everybody involved in athletics should realize that an Olympic medal is the ultimate achievement.”

Over 19 000 runners took to the streets of Soweto in the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon on Sunday morning, 1 November. The race started and finished at the Expo Centre in Johannesburg (NASREC), connecting runners from all over the world to six significant heritage sites dotted along the 42.2km marathon route, including Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Walter Sisulu Square, Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Morris Isaacson High School, Vilakazi Street and Hector Pieterson Memorial.

The marathon men’s race was won by defending champion, Sintayehu Legese Yinesu from Ethiopia, who crossed the finish line in a time of 2:23:20. Zimbabwean Mike Fokoroni took second place in 2:24:12, followed by John Kirui from Kenya (2:24:42). “I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity by Old Mutual, Soweto Marathon and the support from Nedbank Sport Athlete Development Initiative through their development of Ethiopian as well as South African runners,” said Yinesu. “Without their support it would not have been possible for me to defend my title.”

In the women’s race, Kenyan Harriet Jepchumba Chebore led the marathon field home in a time of 2:50:15. Second place went to Amelework Fikadu Bosho in 2:50:15 and in third place, Selam Abere Alebachew ofthiopia completed the marathon in 2:52:03. The two marathon winners each take home R200,000 in prize money.

In the half marathon, Akopo Africa showed fine form to win the women’s title in 1:19:34, while Elroy Gelant took line honours in the men’s race in 1:06:33. Meanwhile, the 10km men’s title went to Namakoe Lucky Nkasi, and Rutendo Nyahora took the women’s title.

For the first time all three routes took runners through the heart of Soweto, allowing all participants to revel in the township’s rich history. “True to tradition, The People’s Race attracted widespread support, with Soweto residents lining the streets, which added a unique spirit and atmosphere to this occasion,” said Mokaedi Dilotsotlhe, Chief Marketing Officer of Old Mutual Emerging Markets. “With Soweto’s rich history and diverse culture as backdrop to the race, we believe that it’s a race every South African should do at least once in their life, and we’re looking forward to returning next year for the 2016 Old Mutual Soweto Marathon, to give the rest of South Africa the opportunity to experience it for themselves.”

Please note that runners registered for the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon are receiving false SMS messages instructing them to collect their race packs from the Union Buildings in Pretoria and to bring R50 along.

The Soweto Marathon Trust along with Old Mutual urge everyone who has received the SMS to ignore it as the information is false.

Race pack collection will take place at Johannesburg Stadium and without any payment due by runners. The venue will open for runners to collect their race packs from 09:00 – 18:00 on Thursday and Friday, 29 and 30 October 2015 with extended hours on Saturday, 31 October 2015 from 09:00 to 19:00.

Further details regarding collection will be communicated to all registered runners directly from the organising committee.

Runners are advised to follow all further updates on Twitter via @SowetoMarathon or visit the website on www.sowetomarathon.com.

Caroline Wöstmann (Nedbank/HPC) and Akani Simbine (Tuks/HPC) deservedly received the Sportswoman and Sportsman awards at the Gauteng Sports Award function recently.

For Wöstmann it has been a quite busy weekend. On Saturday she proved that her training for the New York Marathon (1 November) is on track by winning the Capital Classic 21km.

The Comrades and Two Oceans champion just loves a good challenge and she has decided to try to qualify in the marathon for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio.

Lindsey Parry, Wöstmann’s Tuks/HPC coach, is quietly optimistic that she will be able to do so.
“Caroline is injury free and she has been training really hard. The fact that she was able to improve on all her best times over the various distances, is even more important. But I don’t want to put her under unnecessary pressure by speculating about the time she might be expected to run in New-York. I think that would be unfair, but I am prepared to say is that I am confident that she will improve significantly on her marathon time.”

One of the reasons why Wöstmann proved to be successful as an ultra-racer is her ability to not allow herself to be intimidated by her opponents. At the Two Oceans and the Comrades she managed to stick to her game plan, no matter what. She is hoping for a repeat performance in New York.
“I have no idea what will happen. I can only promise that I will run the best marathon I can, hoping that there will be doors that will open for me. If I do qualify for the Olympics, I plan to race another marathon in April. If I do not qualify, I will definitely be at the Two Oceans and Comrades again,” she said in an earlier interview.

The fact that Simbine received the Gauteng Sportsman of the year award is no surprise. On 1 July, when he won the 100 metres in a time of 9.99 seconds in Velenje, he became only the second South African athlete to break through the 10-second barrier.

He then went on to win the 100 metres in 9.97s at the Student Games in Gwangju, South Korea, equalling the South African record set by Henricho Bruintjies four days earlier. He is the first local sprinter to have twice broken 10 seconds in the 100 metres.

Next year’s Comrades Marathon ‘down-run’ has netted over a third of its 20-thousand entry tally in the first three weeks of its entry process.

With one week to go before the close of early bird entries exclusive to South African athletes, the Comrades Marathon Association has urged runners to be proactive and take advantage of the reduced entry fee.

The early bird entry fee of R380 is valid until 30 September 2015. CMA Race Director, Rowyn James has reminded all South African athletes that there is only one week remaining before it expires.

James says, ‘We hope to have as many South African runners as possible take advantage of this special offer and be part of the 45th ‘Comrades down-run’. As of 1 October, the South African entry fee will increase to R420.’

More than 7300 entries have already been received since the 2016 Comrades Marathon entry process opened on 1 September 2015. Please visit www.comrades.com to view the rising entry barometer.

The three month long entry process will close on 30 November 2015 or as soon as the entry cap of 20,000 has been reached. Entry fees for the 2016 Comrades Marathon are as follows:
• Local Entries : R 420.00
• Rest of Africa : R 700.00
• International : R2400.00

Entry is free to all runners who have completed the Comrades Marathon 25 times or more.

Runners can enter as follows:
• online via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com;
• by posting their completed entry form with proof of payment to the CMA Office in Pietermaritzburg:
P.O. Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209;
• by handing in their completed entry form together with the original bank deposit slip at the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg.

Entry forms are available at local running clubs, provincial sporting federations and the CMA office; as well as selected qualifying races which the Comrades Team will be attending from September to November.

Next year’s down-run will be the 91st edition of the world’s greatest ultra-marathon on Sunday, 29 May 2016. The race starts at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 05h30 and ends 12 hours later at the Sahara-Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban, covering a distance of around 90km.

Springbok rugby players have often graced the pages of both Modern Athlete and Modern Cyclist magazines. And because we are definitely and unashamedly South African supporters and we are all rather “sport-crazy”, the “gang” at our Johannesburg offices decided to wear SA rugby supporters’ jerseys in honour of our boys who are currently warming up for their first 2015 Rugby World Cup game against Japan, scheduled to kick off tomorrow afternoon.

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has confirmed that more than 6500 entries have already been received since the 2016 Comrades Marathon entry process opened on 1 September 2015.

CMA Race Director, Rowyn James has reminded all South African athletes that there are only two weeks remaining before the special early bird entry fee of R380 expires.

James says, ‘We hope to have as many South African runners take advantage of this special offer. As of 1 October, the South African entry fee will increase to R420.’

The three month long entry process will close on 30 November 2015 or as soon as the entry cap of 20,000 has been reached. Entry fees for the 2016 Comrades Marathon are as follows:
• Local Entries : R 420
• Rest of Africa : R 700
• International : R2400

Entry is free to all runners who have completed the Comrades Marathon 25 times or more.

Runners can enter as follows:
• online via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com;
• by posting their completed entry form with proof of payment to the CMA Office in Pietermaritzburg:
P.O. Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209;
• by handing in their completed entry form together with the original bank deposit slip at the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg.

Entry forms are available at local running clubs, provincial sporting federations and the CMA office; as well as selected qualifying races which the Comrades Team will be attending from September to November.

Next year’s down-run will be the 91st edition of the world’s greatest ultra-marathon on Sunday, 29 May 2016. The race starts at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 05h30 and ends 12 hours later at the Sahara-Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban, covering a distance of around 90km.

Please visit www.comrades.com for any information about the race. There is even an entry barometer which shows how many runners have entered the race.

Just one week into the 2016 Comrades Marathon entry process and the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has confirmed that over a quarter of the 20,000 entry cap has already been filled.

The entry barometer passed the 5000 mark on the morning of Monday 8 September, and you can keep track of the latest entry tally at www.comrades.com.

The three-month entry process opened on Spring Day, 1 September 2015 and is set to close on 30 November 2015, or as soon as the entry cap of 20,000 has been reached. South African entrants are urged to enter early in order to qualify for the ‘early bird’ entry fee of R380 if their entry is received before 30 September 2015. The regular South African entry fee of R420 will kick in on 1 October 2015 until the entry process is closed.

Runners can enter as follows:
• Online via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com.
• By posting their completed entry form with proof of payment to the CMA Office in Pietermaritzburg: P.O. Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209.
• By handing in their completed entry form together with the original bank deposit slip at the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg.

Entry forms are available at local running clubs, provincial sporting federations and the CMA office; as well as selected qualifying races which the Comrades Team will be attending from September to November.

Barely four days into the 2016 Comrades Marathon entry process, over 4000 entries have already been received, and you can visit www.comrades.com to view the rising entry barometer. The three-month entry process opened on 1 September 2015 and will close on 30 November 2015, or as soon as the entry cap of 20,000 has been reached. Prospective entrants are therefore encouraged to get their entries in early to avoid disappointment.

Furthermore, the entry process for the 2016 race has already broken a record. CMA General Manager, Chris Fisher says, “In a first for the Comrades charities, the first three days of the 2016 Comrades entry process has netted over R100,000 in donations for our six official charities. We are humbled by our runners’ benevolence. The camaraderie and extraordinary achievement associated with this great race cannot be overstated. We invite every South African to get involved in one way or another, come 29 May 2016.”

South African runners will be eligible for the ‘early bird’ entry fee of R380 if their entry is received before 30 September 2015. The regular South African entry fee of R420 will kick in on 1 October 2015 until the entry process is closed. Runners from the rest of Africa will pay R700 for an entry, while international runners from overseas will pay R2400. Entry is free to all runners who have completed the Comrades Marathon 25 times or more.

Runners can enter as follows:
• Online via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com;
• By posting their completed entry form with proof of payment to the CMA Office in Pietermaritzburg: P.O. Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209;
• By handing in their completed entry form together with the original bank deposit slip at the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg.

Entry forms will be available at local running clubs, provincial sporting federations and the CMA; as well as selected qualifying races which the Comrades Team will be attending from September to November.

The 91st Comrades Marathon will be a down-run on Sunday 29 May 2016. The race starts at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 5:30am and ends 12 hours later at the Sahara-Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban, covering a distance of around 90km.

CMA Race Director, Rowyn James says, “Qualifying for the 2016 Comrades Marathon will be applicable from 30 August 2015 till 2 May 2016. Runners are advised that the 2015 Comrades Marathon will not be an automatic qualifier for next year’s race.”

Entries for the 2016 Comrades Marathon, the 91st edition of the world’s biggest and oldest ultra-marathon, will open tomorrow, Tuesday 1 September 2015.

The entry period will close on 30 November 2015 or as soon as the entry cap of 20,000 is reached, so prospective entrants are encouraged to get their entries in early to avoid disappointment. The race will take place on Sunday 29 May 2016 and will be a Down Run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.

CMA Race Director, Rowyn James says, “We encourage our runners to enter early and to experience the beauty and humbling nature of the world’s greatest ultra-marathon.”

Entry fees for the 2016 Comrades Marathon are as follows:
• Early Bird Entries: R380.00 (SA athletes only)
• Local Entries: R420.00
• Rest of Africa: R700.00
• International: R2400.00

South African runners will be eligible for the ‘early bird’ entry fee of R380 if their entry is received before 30 September 2015. The regular South African entry fee of R420 will kick in from 1 October 2015 until the entry process is closed. Entry is free to all runners who have completed the Comrades Marathon 25 times or more.

Runners can enter as follows:
• Online via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com;
• By posting their completed entry form with proof of payment to the CMA Office in Pietermaritzburg: P.O. Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209;
• Or by handing in their completed entry form together with payment at the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg.

Entry forms will be available at local running clubs, provincial sporting federations and the CMA; as well as selected qualifying races which the Comrades Team will be attending from September to November.

Qualifying for the 2016 Comrades Marathon will be applicable from 30 August 2015 till 2 May 2016. Runners are advised that the 2015 Comrades Marathon will not be an automatic qualifier for next year’s race. The Substitution window period will be from 1 to 21 April 2016.