JOHANNESBURG, Tuesday, 05 February 2008: The addition of a Half Marathon race in the 2008 Nedbank Matha Series taking place in Nelspruit Mpumalanga, signals the growing popularity of the Nedbank Matha Series. This was announced by Nedbank and ASA at a press conference in Johannesburg, today.

This addition means the Nedbank-sponsored series will this year feature nine events including the national championships in the marathon, half marathon and 10 kilometres. The races are held at different venues across the country to ensure as many athletes as possible get to compete in at least one event.

“Athletics South Africa (ASA) decided to introduce a Nedbank-sponsored Half Marathon event in Nelspruit on account of the rich road running culture in Mpumalanga province. Besides, Mpumalanga has produced some of South Africa’s country most successful road runners. The most distinguished athlete of them all is the 1996 Olympic marathon champions Josiah Thugwane,” ASA’s General Manager, Ms Linda Ferns, said.

Last month the series got underway with an increased annual participation at the Nedbank Matha Half Marathon in Tshwane on January 25. Other half Marathon races will be contested in Bloemfontein, Polokwane, Limpopo on March 29, and in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan City (Port Elizabeth) on July 5. The latter event incorporating the SA Half Marathon Championships.

Meanwhile this week attention shifts to the full marathon race. The Nedbank Durban City Marathon on Sunday 10 February also doubles up as the National Marathon Championships. Athletes will be vying to post a quick time to catch the attention of those charged with selecting the marathon team to the Beijing Olympics. Athletes participating in this marathon can also use the event to qualify for the Comrades Marathon and Two Oceans Marathon.

Subsequent City Marathon races will be contested in Johannesburg on April 4 and Cape Town on September 21. The most high profile marathon in the country will be held in Soweto on November 2.

The Nedbank Series also includes the national 10km Championships that will be staged in Stellenbosch, Boland on August 31. This series has something for both mass and social runners as well as elite competitors.

“However we advise athletes to choose their races carefully making sure they have at least two to three months rest between marathon races. Athletes can now prepare well and post quick times when they compete. That is the best way for them to plan for a good race and corresponding prize money,” says Ferns.

In 2007 the Nedbank City Marathons and Matha Series attracted close to 30,000 runners in the entire series. Total prize money invested in the Series was about R3.6 mil. The mission of the Nedbank Series is to provide athletes with quality prize money so the athlete does not have to over extend themselves by over participating in the year. In 2007 this will be no different. Total Prize money in the city Marathon Series is R2.85mil with equal prize money to men and women, first place being: R60 000 and R100,000 and in the Matha Series, first place athletes take home is R20 000.

“Nedbank is very excited to be able to increase its footprint across South Africa in the Nedbank Series, particularly in Durban and Nelspruit, where these two new venues will stage a City marathon and Matha Series respectively,” said Andy Scott, Head: Group Sponsorships Nedbank Group Marketing.

The main purpose of the Nedbank Series is to instill a lifestyle of healthy living for families in South Africa. Each of the events in the series has an event for each member of the family – from the 5km fun run to the standard marathon.