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Lesotho national, Namakoe Nkhasi, set a personal best time in winning the Nelson Mandela Bay half marathon on Saturday, but local runner Melikhaya Frans in second, earned himself the ASA National title in a new Eastern Province record.
Race organisors said Marine Drive proved to be one of the quickest roads in the country as Nkhasi came home in a time of 1:01:01, with Frans setting a new EP record of 1:01:03, while Namibian, Daniel Paulus rounded off the podium in third with a time of 1:01:10
In the women’s draw, Ftaw Bezabh, also came home in a fast time of 1:06:57, followed by Helalia Johannes in a time of 1:07:49 and Tadu Nare was third in a time of 1:07:55.
Local athlete Frans was full of praise for his support team around him.
"This national title wouldn’t be possible without my coach Michael Mbambani, and our Ikhamva team and training partners, so this is for them,” he said in a post-race statement.
Race director, Michael Mbambani said; “We continue to take learnings from our previous editions and build on every point to give the runners an opportunity to run a fast event.”
Frans will now be representing South Africa at the World Athletic Championship in Oregon in the US in July.
He will be running the marathon alongside the legendary Stephen Mokoka.
