In warm and humid conditions Mmanoko Mokwakwaila and Deanne Horn proved too strong for their rivals as the emerged victorious ahead of a field of almost 1 000 runners at the Aurum Klerksdorp Marathon on Sunday.
Mokwakwaila powered away over the second lap of the 42,2km distance to build a convincing lead over William Monelo and Jabulani Nhlapo. The eventual winner crossed the line at Wesvalia High School in 2.33.09 after incredibly increasing his lead by more than three minutes over the final seven kilometres.
Full Aurum Klerksdorp Marathon results: bit.ly/Klerksdorp2020Res
Monelo and Nhlapo crossed the line with times of 2.40.18 and 2.43.00, while the fast finishing Louis Smit and David Kagiso Sealogo just could not do enough to force themselves onto the podium and had to settle for fourth and fifth respectively.
Horn, who last year claimed third in the women’s half marathon distance, had to work hard to see off the challenge of Julia Matsepe to take the title in the full distance event this year. Horn finished in 2.47.49 while Matsepe ended up less than two minutes behind in 2.49.07. Seipati Peo’s time of 3.02.00 was good enough to fill the final step of the podium for the women’s race.
In the half marathon 21,1km distance, the top competitors from last year fought for the title with David Mansa and Joel Mmone reversing their 2019 result as Mansa crossed the line just 25 seconds ahead of the defending champion in a time 1.08.34.
Stepping onto the bottom step of the podium was the 2019 full marathon winner Kemoreng Jeffrey Moabankwe who ended a further 48 seconds behind Mansa.
In the women’s half distance event, Rone Reynecke (1.22.57) was a comfortable winner ahead of Sonique van den Berg (1.27.48) with Juanee Ciuiers (1.34.55) filling third spot.
In the 10km race Prince Motsamai, Thato Makgetha and Mogomotsi Segomelo finished within a minute of each other to claim the top three positions while Elizabeth Dlhiwayo, Morakae Tsepetsi and Jean Mari Redelinghuiys did the same in the equivalent women’s race.
Leading results
42,2km Marathon
Male
1 Mmanoko Mokwakwaila 2.33.09
2 William Monelo 2.40.18
3 Jabulani Nhlapo 2.43.00
4 Louis Smit 2.45.49
5 David Kagiso Sealogo 2.46.08
6 David Ngrkane 2.47.47
7 Peter Muthubi 2.47.47
8 Willem Van 2.51.52
9 George Mphatoe 2.52.41
10 Dibotsi Lekopa 2.56.27
Female
1 Deanne Horn 2.47.49
2 Julia Matsepe 2.49.07
3 Seipati Peo 3.02.00
4 Holly Thomas 3.25.32
5 Gloria Seabi 3.29.01
6 Mokgadi Mmolai 3.30.15
7 Marike Du Plessis 3.31.01
8 Nana Bamvu 3.33.39
9 Magdalena Cloete 3.34.09
10 Theodora Mathobisa 3.38.37
21,1km Half Marathon
Male
1 David Mansa 1.08.34
2 Joel Mmone 1.08.56
3 Kemoreng Jeffrey Moabankwe 1.09.44
4 Ofentse Motlhomi 1.09.50
5 Victor Diamond 1.16.58
6 Geoffrey Abrams 1.19.18
7 Tolo Mooketsi 1.19.18
8 Kagiso Magatle 1.21.01
9 Teboho Sekhutshoanyane 1.21.59
10 Diketso Johannes Radebe 1.22.00
Female
1 Rone Reynecke 1.22.57
2 Sonique Van Den Berg 1.27.48
3 Juanee Ciuiers 1.34.55
4 Rianette Van Der Merwe 1.39.35
5 Palesa Lehasa 1.41.16
6 Phatsimo Moikabi 1.42.15
7 Daleen Van Der Merwe 1.46.27
8 Santle Crots 1.46.32
9 Lien Van Der Merwe 1.48.27
10 Undine Rauter 1.49.32
10km
Male
1 Prince Motsamai 0.32.59
2 Thato Makgetha 0.33.29
3 Mogomotsi Segomelo 0.33.53
4 Petrus Motsuma 0.35.02
5 Meshack Hlathi 0.37.15
Female
1 Elizabeth Dlhiwayo 0.43.01
2 Morakae Tsepetsi 0.44.46
3 Jean Mari Redelinghuiys 0.45.05
4 Hanmarie Kriel 0.48.01
5 Shan Simmonds 0.49.28