PORT ELIZABETH, July (ANA) – The country's elite road runners will lock horns on Saturday to battle for titles at the ASA National Half-Marathon Championships in Port Elizabeth, which incorporates the CAA Southern Region Half Marathon Championships.
With the annual 21.1km showpiece returning to the Windy City, athletes are again expected to chase fast times after four men dipped under 1:02:00 and three women went under 1:13:00 at last year's event.
Defending champion Stephen Mokoka, who won last year in 1:01:21, is expected to chase his eighth national title over the half-marathon distance after being included in the Athletics Gauteng North provincial team.
Other contenders include local favourite Melikhaya Frans, turning out for the Eastern Province Athletics squad and an Athletics Central North West contingent which features the likes of Thabang Mosiako, Joel Mmone and David Manja.
Boasting tremendous depth, the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) team should also put up a good fight, with their arsenal including Precious Mashele, who earned the bronze medal last year, as well as gutsy front-runner Lucky Mohale, consistent athletes Mbongeni Ngxazozo and Gladwin Mzazi, and marathon specialists Desmond Mokgobu and Xolisa Tyali.
In the women's race, last year's winner Cornelia Joubert, who clocked 1:12:31 to secure the 2017 crown, spearheads a CGA team which also features Mapaseka Makhanya, along with twin sisters Diana-Lebo and Lebogang Phalula, and siblings Christine and Rene Kalmer.
In-form athlete Nolene Conrad, representing Western Province Athletics, is likely to join the battle up front after enjoying a breakthrough season.
“A very competitive race is no doubt in the cards this year as this event continues to receive great growth here at Nelson Mandela Bay,” said Aleck Skhosana, the President of Athletics South Africa. “It is, therefore, safe to expect another successful ASA Half Marathon Championships, as we have now become accustomed to over the past two years.
“Eastern Province Athletics has been consistently brilliant over the past years in putting up a decent and world-class event, they and must be congratulated for that.
Adding to the excitement is that this year sees the incorporation of the CAA Southern Region 21.1km Championships making the event even more prestigious. South Africa has taken the obligation to assist and embrace the region in our collective ambition to see more competition for athletes in Southern Africa.” – African News Agency (ANA)
