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Johannesburg, 20 March 2006 - South Africa’s foremost Marathon runner Hendrick Ramaala will be using the Nedbank 20km Matha Series on 1 April, in Pretoria, as final preparation for his assault on the London Marathon.
The R20,000 first prize money for the Pretoria race will see some great athletes contending for first. Amongst the big names that have entered are Ramaala’s old nemesis Shadrack Hoff and Cuthbert Nyasango.
Hoff should prove to be dangerous as he is currently racing himself into shape. He had a disappointing attempt at the Nedbank SA Marathon Championships in Port Elizabeth, and will want to prove that he is still a major force in the South African Road Running scene. The SA 5000m record holder is no slouch over most distances, having clocked the fastest 10km time by a South African (27:50) ahead of Ramaala’s 28:02. Hoff also boasts the joint fastest time by a South African with Meshack Mogotsi over 15km (42:58) and is the 11th fastest South African over the Half Marathon (62:11).
Nyasango finished third in the Nedbank Matha Series race in Sandton on 29 January. It was not the placing that impressed, but rather the manner in which he raced. It was only in the final kilometer of the race that Ramaala was able to catch and pass Cuthbert.
The Nedbank Matha Series race in Pretoria starts off fairly flat but makes a long climb up to the Voortrekker Monument in the second half of the race. Ramaala’s strength and endurance work will come into play here and should make him favourite to win his third successive Nedbank Series race (20km – 29 January, 10km – 12 February).
Ramaala will be up against World Record Holder Paul Tergat and Haile Gebresellassie for the race through Central London on 22 April.
source ASA
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