by RIËL HAUMAN
STATS & FACTS
by RIËL HAUMAN
Stats & Facts
Magical Memories
The world of running produces scintillating times and interesting statistics , including these standout performances in April from the annals of SA running .
2 April 1904
Charles Hefferon would become famous in 1908 when he won the silver medal in the marathon at the Olympic Games in London -- the second South African athlete to win an Olympic medal – but he first wrote his name in the history books when he won the inaugural SA track title over 4 miles in Johannesburg on this day in 1904 . His time was 22:03.2 , and he was to win the title five more times . The distance remained at 4 miles until 1938 ; the next year it changed to 3 miles , and later became the 5000m . In 1909 , Hefferon also won the first contest over 10 miles , again in Johannesburg . He never won the SA Marathon title , but he did win the mile title six years in a row ( 1904-09 ).
10
South African Road List Leaders for 2023
This section lists the best South African official performances this year in each of the most popular official road distances . MEN
10km 28:42 Anthony Timoteus Cape Town , 4 March
15km 46:30 Anthony Timoteus Cape Town , 14 January
21.1km
1:03:36 1:03:34a
Thabang Mosiako Ian Slinger
ISSUE 158 | www . modernathlete . co . za a – Aided course , e . g . point-to-point , and therefore not record-legal
Despatch , 18 March Ladysmith , 11 February
25km 1:20:16a Sanele Sibisi Pinetown , 29 January
30km 1:41:23 William Kaptein Parow , 26 March
42.2km 2:06:42 Stephen Mokoka Osaka , 25 February
50km 2:39:04 Tete Dijana Gqeberha , 26 February
WOMEN
10km 33:44 Gerda Steyn Dubai , 12 February
15km 53:35 Annie Bothma Cape Town , 4 February
21.1km 1:10:07 Dominique Scott-Efurd Houston , 15 January
25km 1:44:14a Fikile Mbuthuma Pinetown , 29 January
30km 2:09:40 Elmé Middlemost Parow , 26 March
42.2km 2:29:19 Dominique Scott-Efurd London , 23 April
50km 3:12:51 Stella Marais Gqeberha , 26 February
KEY
Charles Hefferon
( As at 20 March 2023 )
13 April 1936
Only two athletes ever won the 10 miles on the track and the marathon at the same SA Championships . The first was Jackie Gibson in 1935 and the second was Johannes ( Johnny ) Coleman the following year . That 1936 track race was on the second day of the meeting , and Coleman won in 53:53.8 , with Gibson second and Wally Hayward third . The marathon had been run two days earlier , on the first day of the Champs , and produced a memorable finish . Coleman usually ran without his dentures , but wanted them in when he finished , so he stopped at the small gate of the Westbourne Oval in Port Elizabeth to collect the dentures from his sister . This allowed Gibson , who was on his heels , to enter the stadium first . Unperturbed , Coleman assured his sister that it was no problem , and that he would win . He charged after Gibson , caught him and finished in 2:31:57.4 , more than six minutes faster than his own SA Record .
Johannes ( Johnny ) Coleman
7 April 1958
On this day in Pretoria , Jan Barnard scored a third ‘ double ’ at the SA Championships by winning the 6 miles , having already won the marathon . ( In 1968 , the 6 miles became the 10,000m event .) Barnard won the 6 miles in 30:33.2 from Marthinus Wiid on a wet grass track , two days after taking the marathon title in 2:28:04 , in what was then the fastest time ever at the SA Championships , and also with Wiid finishing second . Barnard was the first athlete to receive Springbok colours in all three disciplines ( track , cross-country and road ), and four months after his SA Champs double , he earned the silver medal in the
Images : Courtesy Olympedia , Century of the Marathon , Dewald Steyn , RunnerSpace , Two Oceans Marathon , Gerda Steyn