Harry Gwala District Marathon proves a challenge for top runners
The marathon was well-organised, incident-free and the security at the event was excellent.
Although the annual Harry Gwala District Municipality Marathon (42,2 km) was not well-attended by the running fraternity, it was well-organised, incident-free and the security was excellent.
This was all down to the officials from the provincial athletics governing body, KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA). The event succeeded in attracting some international athletes from around Africa and abroad.
The main race — the 42,2 km — started at Umzimkhulu and ended at Ixopo High School. The overall winner was Umzimkhulu’s Mholi Jali (Excel Athletics Club), who works as a security guard for a local firm. Jali clocked 2:33:45.
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The runner- up was Kabelo Lesia (3:34:34, Maxed Elite) and in third place was the Howick-based athlete Nkosikhona “Pitbull” Mhlakwana (2:35:05, Hollywood).
The race started with the elite runners forming two leading bunches. The two groups kept exchanging positions as others battled to keep up with the pace in the rugged, challenging route.
After spending some time in one of the leading bunches, Jali decided to pull away and stayed in the front until he crossed the finishing line. He agreed that the race was tough and the route was challenging.
I am just glad that at the end of the day I managed to win it. It was through my hard work, and also my club’s support is really paying off. We were all expecting to battle on the road because the route is not an easy one
“Remember, this year we ran from Umzimkhulu to Ixopo and it means this year’s event was an up-run. I also felt it, but luckily enough I’m a local guy and I know the area very well because I train around the route,” said Jali.
One of the race favourites and a runner who has been tipped to do well in the forthcoming Comrades Marathon, Howick’s Mhlakwana explained to The Witness after crossing the finishing line that his plans went very well during the marathon.
He explained that his plan was not to win the race, but to use it as a “training session” for the Durban-to-Pietermaritzburg ultra marathon on June 9 as this is also a hilly course with steep climbs.
Jali also revealed that at one stage during the race he was tempted to push for honours.
“My main reason for taking part in this race was just to go out there and use it as one of my training sessions, but after seeing that most of the guys in the leading bunch were battling, I decided to also stay in the front and see what happens at the end.
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“I then decided to push a bit and try my luck at least for the top 10. To make it to the top three was a bonus because I really came here for a training run,” said Mhlakwana.
The women’s 42,2 km race was won by Irine Iotarency from Nedbank AC in 02:58:49, second place went to Sheila Saina (03:02:22), and in the third place was Monicah Jepkorir Mengich (03:11:26).