Leburu Kgosimang became the first in the recent history of the race to lead from gun to tape when he won the Old Mutual Om Die Dam 50km ultra on Saturday in 2 hours 54 minutes and four seconds.
Michael Ngaseki accompanied Kgosimang to the 15km but a few initial testing surges by Kgosimang showed that no one was willing or able to stick with him, and the Klerskdorp runner prized himself free of the field to remain unchallenged to the tape.
“I’m pleased with my year so far,” said Kgosimang who won the Pick and Pay Marathon in two hours twenty minutes. “Injury has kept me out of Two Oceans for the past two years, but I’ll be there this year looking for a good top ten position.”
Zimbabwean Leonard Koki was the best of the competition, but he was over 400 metres adrift when he crossed the line.
“I had a good race and i’m pleased as I was able to keep a constant pace throughout the run,” said the Mr price athlete who will miss Two Oceans this year. “I failed to put a qualifying time in before the cut off date, so I am changing my focus to Loskop where I think I have a good chance of a win”
The run in from the top of Saartjies saw William Makwalakwala secured third position in 2:57:14, and he was joined by Peter Muthubi and Thabo Nkuna as the final runners to break the 3 hour barrier.
It was a family affair in the ladies race where defending champion Chiyedza Chokore and her sister Lizih dominated proceedings.
The duo were never far apart but on the final 3km climb it was Lizih who had the advantage. Chiyedza failed in her final attempt to close the gap failed with 600metres remaining allowing her sister to take the honours in 3 hours 23 minutes and 52 second. Chiyedza was nine seconds adrift at the tape.
Third place went to Farwa Mentoor who made her debut to the race securing her win in typical fashion with a fast finish after conquering the infamous Saartjies climb at 36km.
“That was an amazing climb. This is really a great course for Comrades training,” said the perennial winner of the first South African in Comrades. “My training is going well. I am aiming for a top ten in Two Oceans, then defend my title in Comrades.”
It was a useful performance by Mentoor who departs this weekend for a four-week altitude training camp in Graaskop with her Bonitas teammates.
A sound race strategy paid off for Toyota’s Michael Mazibuko who took the honours in the half marathon. Mazibuko, Lucky Mohale and Vusi Malobola broke away from the rest of the contenders on the fast downhill first half of the race, and were still together with seven kilometres to go.
Mazibuko’s power told on the climb back over the ridge and on the three kilometre ascent to the finish to cross the line in an impressive one hour five minutes and 32 seconds, giving him a useful victory over current national half marathon champion Lucky Mohale.
Mohale was 150 metres adrift at the line and was chased to the line by Malobola who secured the third spot in 1:06:41.
The family celebrations for the Chokore sisters commenced earlier in the day when their cousin Munchanetta Gwata headed the ladies field in the 21km race. The strong running Gwata had 250 metres in hand when she entered the grass track finish to break the tape in one hour 22 minutes and two seconds, with Bedfordview’s Cornelia Joubert making her name with a valuable second place. Paulina Njeya from the Bonita’s club completed the podium places.
The Old Mutual Om Die Dam is a Bronze Label event under the International Association of Ultra-running (IAU), which means that the results are comparable internationally and the top performers are ranked and eligible for entry into the IAU 50km World Cup.
Men: 1 Leburu Kgosimang Klerksdorp 2:54:04, 2 Leonard Koki Mr Price 2:55:44, 3 William Makwalakwala Toyota 2:57:14, 4 Peter Muthubi Nedbank 2:58:00, 5 Thabo Nkuna Bonitas 2:58:08, 6 Lucas Nonyana Nedbank 3:01:37, 7 Samuel Ongaki Nedbank 3:01:59, 8 Raymond Msiza Daveyton Hearts 3:02:35, 9 Butiki Jantjies Mr Price 3:03:40, 10 Joseph Mphuti Toyota 3:04:04
40-49 Butiki Jantjies Mr Price 3:03:40, 2 Mario Balaze RAC 3:16:10
50-59 1 Elias Letlape Nedbank Nedbank 3;37:01, 2 Kgang Sethojane Harmony 3:42:13
60-69 Louis Leibenberg Boksburg 4:39:12, 2 Ponchi Maja Magnolia 4:47:37
70 Martin Coetzee Magnolia 6:13:30
walker 1 Hudsie Hartsenberg PMWC 5:53:27, 2 Mpumzeni Lukhelo PMWC 6:00:42, 3 Sydwell Mhlongo BNAC 6:05:50
Ladies: 1 Lizih Chokore Nedbank 3;23:52, 2 Chiyedza Chokore Mr Price 3:24:01, 3 Farwa Mentoor Bonitas 3:46:24, 4 Julanie Basson Toyota 3:46:32, 5 Lesley Train Nedbank 3:48:35, 6 Adinda Kruger Nedbank 3:49:32, 7 Elizabeth Phaka Gauteng Striders 3:54:04, 8 Carien Visser Tuks 3:54:46, 9 Winia Janse van Rensburg Tuks 3:57:44, 10 Gilian Sieling Nedbank 4:00:21
40-49 1 Carien Visser Tuks 3:54:46, 2 Gilian Sieling Nedbank 4:00:21
50-59 1 Val Watson New Balance 4:29:20, 2 Heleen Holl Rustenberg 4;33:57
60-69 1 Elaine Greenblatt Rockies 4:45:17, 2 Carol Cronk Florida 5:15:49
Walkers 1 Sandra Steenkamp Irene 5:29:37, 2 Belinda Skinner 5;56:18
21km
Men: 1 Michael Mazibuko Toyota 1;05:32, 2 Lucky Mohale Mr Price 1:06:06, 3 Vusi Malobola Bonitas 1:06:41,
40-49 1 Piet Mosebedi HSRC 1:12:00, 2 Isaac Masilela ADT 1:15:27
50-59 1 Colin Fischer CSIR 1:32:02, 2 Alpheus Jobe Jeppe 1:32:41
60-69 1 Trevor Parry Harmony Striders 1:37:13
70 plus Willem Hietbrink Carnival City 2:30:03
Ladies : 1 Munchanetta Gwata Mr Price 1;22:02, 2 Cornelia Joubert Bedfordview 1:22:56, 3 Paulina Njeya Bonitas 1:23:22
40-49 1 Jane Madau Bonitas 1:32:40, 2 Ansie Viljoen Irene 1;35:20
50-59 1 Mieme Liebenberg Panorama 2:04:09, 2 Elize Brunette Ndaba 2:12:22
60-69 Margaret Boshoe Sunninghill 2:05:27,
70 Mavis Stadler Agape 2:12:14