Nancy Will smashes SA Half Marathon record at ASA Champs

05 Jun Nancy Will smashes SA Half Marathon record at ASA Champs

NANCY Will once again proved that she is the best 70-year-old female in the country when she smashed the South African Half Marathon record at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Half-Marathon Championships in Gqeberha on Saturday morning.

The runner from the Pinelands Athletics Club  made Western Province Athletics  (WPA) proud when she finished the Nelson Mandela Bay 21.1 km in a blistering 1 hour 46 minutes and 46 seconds.

Nancy Will                                                                                                                                         Photo’s: Adnaan Mohamed

Liz Jenkerson (02:10:073)  and Josina Els (02:12:1) both from the home province  Eastern Province Athletics (EPA) was way behind in second and  third place respectively.

An elated Will said afterwards: “It was my goal to break the record.  It was ideal conditions with no wind at any stage in the race.  However, I had to work very hard. At  about 10km I was behind schedule but I persevered and gave it all. I’m ecstatic that I could improve on my previous time. I set the record last year at the Mitchells Plain Titans 21.1km  when I bettered Veronica van Niekerk’s (Boland) previous mark.”

In the half marathon for  70 + men  WPA’s Timothy Pienaar (01:43:35) won a silver medal. Don Charles (01:43:21) from EPA won gold with his team-mate Johannes Els (01:46:18) taking the bonze medal.

Timothy Pienaar                                                                                                                              Photo: Adnaan Mohamed                                                                                                                                                                 

The first WPA senior athlete across the line was Raydon Balie  (01:05:29). Rowhaldo Ratz (01:05:31) was close on his heels with Thomas Struis (01:08:09) the third WPA athlete.  The first WPA veteran 40+ athlete was Mthandazo Qhina (01:11:25). Ricardo Blaauw (01:13:45) was the second WPA veteran with Marjoie Prins (01:41:51) the first female in the 50-59 category.

WPA senior en veteran half marathon team                                                                                                                         Photo: Farouk Meyer

Local favourite Thabang Mosiako and in-form athlete Glenrose Xaba, produced the best performances of their careers by winning the national men’s and women’s titles.

Fast times were produced across the board in the championship contest, which was incorporated into the Nelson Mandela Bay Half-Marathon.

In the open men’s race, Mosiako was prominent in a large lead pack for most of the 21.1km distance and he eventually broke away down the beach front in the closing stages to win the overall battle and the SA title for host province Eastern Province Athletics.

Mosiako, who also set a personal best of 1:00:29, dragged three other men under 61 minutes, with Tebello Ramakongoana breaking the Lesotho national record by taking second place in the open event in 1:00:35.

Precious Mashele, representing Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA), was third overall in 1:00:43, securing the silver medal in the national championship, while fellow former champion Stephen Mokoka was fourth overall and third in the ASA Championship clocking 1:00:54 in the colours of Athletics Gauteng North (AGN).

Thabang Mosiako                                                                      Photo: Matt & Kyle Pearce Photography

“I’ve been dreaming of running a time like this and it is so touching to be able to do it here,” Mosiako said. “Our training group (under coach Michael Mbambani) has been working hard and I’m happy because I was able to fight for the group, fight for the province and fight for Nelson Mandela Bay.”

In the women’s contest Xaba (AGN) was phenomenal, pushing the pace throughout the race and holding on to secure her fourth straight national half-marathon crown in a personal best of 1:08:36. She took second place overall, just two seconds behind Kenyan athlete Betty Chepkemoi, who won the open race in 1:08:34.

Bekelech Wariyo, Betty Chepkemoi and Glenrose Xaba                                                                                                 Photo: Matt & Kyle Pearce Photography

Cacisile Sosibo, who was seventh overall in 1:09:46 and CGA teammate Cian Oldknow – who was ninth in 1:10:48, earned silver and bronze medals respectively in the ASA Championship.

“It’s so exciting to win my fourth half-marathon title. I’m still shocked,” Xaba said after the race.

“I’m working very hard to maintain the standard and it’s not easy, but with the right support anything is possible. I’m grateful to my coaches Caster and Violet Semenya, and to our training group, who are there for me in good and times.”

James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa, said: “I predicted super performances and these were delivered in both races. Congratulations to the winners and to all who made the podium. That is also directed to the respective coaches, their provinces and support staff.

”We throw all our accolades to the beautifull work done by Eastern Province Athletics, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and associated sponsors. It was another well organised race.”

FIND COMPLETE LIST OF RESULTS HERE: https://results.finishtime.co.za/Search.aspx?CId=35&RId=4115&S=WPA

Betty Chepkemoi                                                                          Photo: Matt & Kyle Pearce Photography