KGB 10km Spring Run 2013

KGB 10km Spring Run 2013

With a spring in their step, close on 1,250 runners took to the streets surrounding Gateway in the KGB 10km Spring Run and Walk & KGB Holdings 5km Fun Run and Walk with Lucky Madlala and Sithembile Radebe claiming the honours in the 10km race.

Madlala and Radebe led from the start in the 10km. In the men’s race, Madlala was shadowed by Sibongiseni Ngcobo for 8.5km but 19 year old Ngcobo, who ran in an 8km cross country meeting in Newlands that morning, ran out of steam, leaving Madlala to surge towards victory. Ncgobo’s sister, Sithembile Radebe (18) who also had 8km under her belt that day, ran a lonely race out at the front, dominating the women’s race.

Madlala running in the colours of Queensburgh Harriers finished in a time of 33.33, club training partner and friend Innocent Nyawose ran his personal best in 10km ran sneaking in under 34minutes with a 33.57 concluding his efforts in second place. First lady home, Radebe finished in a time of 45.19 followed by Lisa Collett in a time off 47.23 and third placed Yolanda Beeld with the clock on 48.17.

Both Madlala and Radebe were awarded with the Hot Spot prize, an award given to the first runner through the halfway mark. Radebe also scooped up the prize of first Junior.

In the 5km distance, Waterfall’s Bongumusa Mbatha representing Phantane Athletic Club and Boxer Athletic Club’s Daniella Arrigo from Umhlanga took the honours in the shorter race. Arrigo hunted down the fast paced Mbatha who specialises in 800m and 200m track events, the 14 year old cross country athlete completed the run second overall in the co-ed race.

An enthusiastic Race Organiser, Anand Naicker from the host running club, Verulam Athletic Club said, “We could not have asked for a better event, it was a fantastic twilight run, the first of its kind in the area. The entire package, the multi-cultural entertainment at the finish, the ambience in the park, the eager runners and everyone assisting all played a magnificent part in the successful event. So much so that we have set the date for next year all ready, diaries the 23 August 2014, same place!”

The course was a fabulously challenging run, with a number of hills to tackle, corners to round as they ran in surrounding construction area with the start and finish at Chris Saunders Park in Umhlanga.

“The objectives of the event was to encourage the youth and adults in our community and surrounding areas to participate in an event that promotes a healthy lifestyle so as to embrace a wellness concept; and as part of our on-going campaign to raise funds to complete our much needed Universal Place of Worship and Spiritual Resource Centre in Somerset Park, Umhlanga,” says Dr. Suren Lutchminarayan: Public Relations Manager & Fun Run Convenor on behalf of the Umhlanga Hindu Society.

The second running of the KGB 10km Spring Run and Walk & KGB Holdings 5km Fun Run and Walk was successfully hosted with a field of 1,500 taking to the roads in gorgeous spring weather.

Results

Men 10km

1 Lucky Madlala (Queensburgh Harriers) 33.33, 2 Innocent Nyawose (QueensBurgh Harriers) 33.57, 3 Sibongiseni Ngcobo (Shongweni Development Running Club) 34.13

Women 10km

1 Sithembile Radebe (Shongweni Development Running Club) 45.19, Lisa Collett 47.23, Yolanda Beeld (SAP) 48.17

Men 5km

1 Bongumusa Mbatha (Phantane Athletic Club)

Women 5km

1 Daniella Arrigo (Boxer Athletic Club)