Griqualand West runners make Comrades medal table

A TOTAL of 74 athletes from the Northern Cape finished Sunday’s gruelling Comrades Marathon race within the cut-off time and went on to collect medals for their effort.

Athletics Griqualand West (AGW) president Lorato Banda said that in all 90 athletes from the Province had registered to run the ultramarathon but for some reason only 74 of them completed the race. “The rest either did not start or did not finish,” he said.

“I think the important thing to note about our presence here is that the AGW clubs had support teams along the route to the finish line. This means that participants from the Northern Cape could access their preferred supplements and moral support over and above what the Comrades organisers provided.”

Tebogo Moipolai of Teemaneng Running Club was the first of the Northern Cape athletes to cross the finish line in Durban with a time of 7.14.21. He was running in the male category for 40 to 49-year-olds.

Moipolai was followed over the finish line by three more members from his club, namely: Arthur Nziweni (07:15:36), Shadrack Selaledi (07:52:45) and Tebogo Rangoato (08:10:14).

Hot on their heels was Clive Thuso Molifi, the only member of Kgosi Galeshewe Athletics Club, who clocked 08:15:24.

A contingent of three from the Kimberley Running Club were next to make it over the line in Durban: Abram Ditsebe clocked 08:21:52, Alphy Seeme 08:32:02 and Pageal Babi 08:37:31.

Sammy Beise, Kimberley SAPS member and coach of Kgosi Galeshewe Athletics Club, managed to squeeze in his medal run with a time of 08:39:51. Teammate and community crime buster Pantsi Obusitse was not too far off in the distance. Obusitse stopped the clock at 10:30:26. Club chairperson Bothata Setlholo clocked 11:06:07.

Banda himself came in at a not too shabby time of 10:41:47 for Teemaneng Running Club.

The Northern Cape ladies contingent who also made the medal count were: Laura Coetzee (KRR), who clocked 10:50:54, Patricia Mogorosi of the Galeshewe Athletics Club who managed to stop the clock at 11:38:07, Nozipho Motaung 10:58:41 (Sesheng), Malebo Manyala 11:43:52 (TRC), Robert M Sobukwe Hospital spokesperson Lulu Mxekezo (KRR) with a time of 11:44:48 and Mellissa Janse Van Rensburg with 11:51:43 (RWFL Kimberley)

Former SA Local Government executive manager Thomas Mongwe, running in the colours of Galeshewe Athletics Club, just missed the medal parade with a time of 11:54:15.

A coterie of runners from various clubs in the Northern Cape, including one from the whites-only enclave of Orania, were also keen to give a boost to the Province’s medal hopes. They include:

Frances Nel 08:53:43 (KRR), Simon Majahe 08:58:37 (KBY Harriers), Mosimanegape Macomo 09:21:43 (TRC), Chisto Muller 09:23:32 (Orania), Joseph Jooste 09:25:28 (KBY Harriers), Kausie Mitra 09:28:13 (KBY Harriers), Eugene Eilers 09:38:11 (Kathu), Glyn Fly Phiri 09:43:24 (KBY Harriers), Josua Molapong 09:54:14 (KRR), John Seretse 09:56:17 (Sesheng), Nathaniel Robert Mohlahlo 09:58:55 (Sesheng), Carl Desember 10:10:27 (Northern Cape Independent Road Runners - NCIRR), Michael Abrams 10:10:26 (NCIRR), Wiseman Motha 10:18:19 (Sesheng) and Phoka Mofokeng 10:21:36 (Wesrun).

The results for the Northern Cape runners (published as received):

1. Tebogo Moipolai 07:14:20 TRC.

2. Arthur Nziweni 07:15:36 TRC.

3. Shadrack Selaledi 07:52:45 TRC.

4. Tebogo Rangoato 08:10:14 TRC.

5. Clive Thuso Molifi 08:15:24 KGA.

6. Abram Ditsebe 08:21:52 KRR.

7. Alphy Seeme 08:32:02 KRR.

8. Pageal Babi 08:37:31 KRR.

9. Samuel Beise 08:39:51 KGA.

10. Frances Nel 08:53:43 KRR.

11. Simon Majahe 08:58:37 KBY Harriers.

12. Mosimanegape Macomo 09:21:43 TRC.

13. Chisto Muller 09:23:32 Orania.

14. Joseph Jooste 09:25:28 KBY Harriers.

15. Kausie Mitra 09:28:13 KBY Harriers.

16. Eugene Eilers 09:38:11 Kathu.

17. Glyn Fly Phiri 09:43:24 KBY Harriers.

18. Josua Molapong 09:54:14 KRR.

19. John Seretse 09:56:17 Sesheng.

20. Shehleng Nathaniel Robert Mohlahlo 09:58:55 Sesheng.

21. Carl Desember 10:10:27 NCIRR.

22. Michael Abrams 10:10:26 NCIRR.

23. Wiseman Motha 10:18:19 Sesheng.

24. Phoka Mofokeng 10:21:36 Wesrun.

25. Lukhanyo Ziphethe 10:22:35 KRC.

26. Charmain Ras 10:27:03 KRR.

27. Gielie Loots 10:27:10 Kathu.

28. Nadine Dames 10:28:35 KRR.

29. Tshepo Kale 10:30:06 TRC.

30. Tebogo Pantsi Obusitse 10:30:26 KGA.

31. Lerato Tshegare 10:30:26 NC SAPS.

32. Tanya Schoeman 10:30:27 KRR.

33. Lebogang Motshedi 10:31:56 NC SAPS.

34. Sibusiso Mazibuko 10:34:30 Kolomela.

35. Sello Mabeba 10:35:50 Kolomela.

36. Keith Blanket 10:36:03 Postmasburg.

37. Mojalefa Moabi 10:38:55 NCIRR.

38. Lorato Banda 10:41:47 TRC.

39. Laura Coetzee 10:50:54 KRR.

40. Kobus Van Der Walt 10:57:01 KRR.

41. Nozipho Motaung 10:58:41 Sesheng.

42. Pitse Benjamin Sesing 10:59:31 NC SAPS.

43. Themba Booysen 10:59:43 TRC.

44. Makuke Molepo 11:05:59 KRR.

45. Bothata Setlholo 11:06:07 KGA.

46. Livhuwani Netshisaulu 11:06:24 Kolomela.

47. Kea Pule 11:11:35 NC SAPS.

48. Dan Mamogwe 11:13:32 KBY Harriers.

49. Masixole Mzukwa 11:16:50 Sesheng.

50. Tiisetso Thiba 11:16:50 Sesheng.

51. Dan Gouws 11:19:09 Kathu.

52. Christo Brink 11:19:40 KRR.

53. Kabelo Mothupi 11:21:15 KRC.

54. Theo Raborife 11:26:17 TRC.

55. Manuel Estavao 11:30:20 Sesheng.

56. Oby Buys 11:30:55 Sesheng.

57. Kenneth Melodi 11:31:59 TRC.

58. Peter Lemao 11:37:36 KRC.

59. Zamile Mbilase 11:37:36 KRC.

60. Malekoma Patricia Mogorosi 11:38:07 Galeshewe AC.

61. Cassius Nelson Rooibaatjie 11:41:22 NC SAPS.

62. Pulane Pharasi 11:43:50 TRC.

63. Malebo Manyala 11:43:52 TRC.

64. Gerrit Schlebusch 11:44:00 KRR.

65. Lulu Mxekezo 11:44:48 KRR.

66. David Janse Van Vuuren 11:49:44 KBY Harriers.

67. Mojaki Swazi 11:50:31 KRR.

68. Mellissa Janse Van Rensburg 11:51:43 RWFL Kimberley.

69. Sandile Maseko 11:52:05 KRR.

70. Thubaki Thaganyane 11:53:27 KRC.

71. Koena Mokoena 11:54:10 NC SAPS.

72. Thomas Mongwe 11:54:15 Galeshewe AC.

73. Bhekithemba Nyembe 11:58:31 KRR.

74. Thapelo Conrade Sebolai 11:58:36 TRC.