In the men ’ s race , Andries Sesedi claimed his first senior national title in 28:58 , beating Nicholas Seoposengwe by 14 seconds , with Mbuleli Mathanga third in 29:15 . In the absence of reigning men ’ s champion Precious Mashele , Stephen Mokoka and South Africa ’ s fastest 10km runner of the year , Maxime Chaumeton , Sesedi added the senior title to the junior title he won in 2019 . Further back in the field , 50-year-old Johannes Kekana delivered another outstanding performance to win the Masters category in 31:46 – faster than the first veteran , Mthandazo Qhina ( 32:14 ).
Bronze for Team SA IAU World 100 km Championships , Berlin , Germany , 27 August
With Zukile Vellem finishing 12 th in 6:37:07 , Renier Grobler coming home 16 th in 6:40:11 and Mahlomola Sekhonyana taking 22 nd position in 6:48:40 , and combined times of 20:05:58 for the top three South Africans was good enough to claim the team bronze medal at the 31 st edition of the IAU World 100km Champs , behind Japan and France . The World Champs title went to Japan ’ s Haruki Okayama in 6:12:10 . Another South African , Bongelani Mkhwanazi , finished 35 th in 7:02:20
Team SA at the IAU World 100km Champs
( 5:33:46 ). In the women ’ s race , Russia ’ s Alexandra Morozova finally got a win in the women ’ s race after two second places in 2017 and 2019 , and a third in the last ‘ Down Run ’ in 2018 . She ran a superbly judged race to win in 6:17:48 , taking the win from Poland ’ s Dominika Stelmach ( 6:25:09 ), who was fifth in 2019 and recently clocked world 40 + bests for 50 miles and 6 hours . South Africans continued their dominance of the last eight men ’ s races – 2011 saw the last foreigner win – and they won nine of the 10 gold medals . Morozova is only the second international runner to win the women ’ s race in the last six starts .
Tete Dijana
Andries Sesedi
Comrades Returns with New Winners Comrades Marathon , Pietermaritzburg to Durban , 28 August
The 95 th edition of the Comrades Marathon was won by an exciting newcomer on the South African ultra scene , Tete Dijana , who crossed the line in 5:30:38 , more than three minutes ahead of 2019 winner Edward Mothibi
2022 Fastest SA Marathoners ( As at 22 August 2022 )
With his 18 th place finish in 2:09:24 at the recent World Athletics Champs Marathon in the USA , Melikhaya Frans jumped to the top of the SA Rankings for the marathon in 2022 . While the focus in South African running in August will be on the Comrades Marathon , the extremely fast Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is coming up in late September , so we can expect to see these rankings to change considerably then .
TOP 10 STATS
TOP 10 MEN
1 2:09:24 Melikhaya Frans ( Eugene , 17 July )
TOP 10 WOMEN
1 2:38:22a Stella Marais ( Simon ' s Town , 20 February )
2 |
2:11:15 |
Tumelo Motlagale ( Durban , 8 May ) |
3 |
2:15:22 |
Stephen Lesego Mokoka ( Gqeberha , 6 March ) |
4 |
2:16:06 |
Simon Lehlohonolo Sibeko ( Durban , 8 May ) |
5 |
2:16:25 |
Edward Omphemetse Mothibi ( Gqeberha , 6 March ) |
6 |
2:16:32 |
Bonginkosi Zwane ( Durban , 8 May ) |
7 |
2:16:37 |
Nkosikhona Mhlakwana ( Durban , 27 February ) |
8 |
2:16:42 |
Folavia Sehohle ( Durban , 8 May ) |
9 |
2:17:21 |
Daniel Matshailwe ( Durban , 8 May ) |
10 |
2:17:42 |
Samuel Pule Sibeko ( Durban , 8 May ) |
2 |
2:40:01 |
Irvette van Zyl ( Port Elizabeth , 6 March ) |
3 |
2:40:59 |
Jenet Mbhele ( Durban , 27 February ) |
4 |
2:48:03 |
Zinhle Shabalala ( Durban , 8 May ) |
5 |
2:50:03 |
Ann Ashworth ( Durban , 8 May ) |
6 |
2:51:41 |
Jenna Challenor ( Durban , 27 February ) |
7 |
2:51:45 |
Janie Grundling ( Durban , 8 May ) |
8 |
2:54:26 |
Galaletsang Mekgoe ( Gqeberha , 6 March ) |
9 |
2:54:28 |
Simone Verster ( Durban , 8 May ) |
10 |
2:54:48a |
Kate Rees ( Simon ' s Town , 20 February ) |
KEY a – Aided course , e . g . point-to-point , and therefore not record-legal
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