Mabuthile Lebopo of Lesotho wins the Nedbank South Africa Marathon Championships (© Mark Ouma)
Lebopo and Moyo take marathon victories in eThekwini
9 February 2009 – eThekwini, South Africa - Defending champion Mabuthile Lebopo of Lesotho and Zimbabwe’s Samukeliso Moyo were crowned winners at the Nedbank South Africa Marathon Championships in eThekwini, South Africa on Sunday (8).
For the first time the national championship had a separate starting point for women. The move was designed to avoid the near stampede at the beginning of the race that often places the female runners at a disadvantage.
Men’s race -
The lead group of twenty athletes settled in a pace of just over three minutes per kilometre for the first half of the race. The lead chase group featuring the main contenders Lebopo, Tsotang Maine (Lesotho), Zimabweans Mike Fokoroni and Oliver Kandiero, South Africans Enos Matalane, George Mofokeng and Johannes Kekana, held back.
Shortly after the half way stage the two groups merged. At 24km Fokoroni made his move steadily building a 200m lead at 30km. Sensing danger Lebopo upped the pace. This had the effect to break up the chase group with only Matalane effectively responding to the change of pace.
With just five kilometres to the finish Fokoroni’s ambitious move begun to take its toll as first Lebopo then Matalane over took him. Lebopo went on to win in 2:13:42. Matalane was second in a life time best of 2:15:11. It is a massive improvement from 2:18:43. Fokoroni (2:15:43) followed.
“My goal today was simply to retain my title,” said Lebopo. “Fokoroni’s huge gap took me by surprise. When I caught up with him at 38km I noticed he was struggling. That gave me the confidence. Next year I will be back and hoping make it three victories in a row.”
Women’s race -
The women’s race after 20 km was essentially down to a tussle among familiar rivals. Zimbabwean Tabitha Tsatsa led the way. Lesotho’s Mamorolla Tjoka, Ethiopian Abebe Foloeda, South Africans Charne Bosman along with Samukeliso Moyo (Zimbabwe) formed the chase group.
Tsatsa abruptly pulled out at 30km whereupon Tjoka and Moyo increased their tempo breaking away from the pack. From there it was a duel between the two. The decider came in the last 300m where they ran shoulder to shoulder amid cheers from the spectators. With 50m to the finish line Tjoka gave in. For the second time in two months Tjoka had been outpaced by a Zimbabwean towards the end of the race.
Moyo won in 2:43:11 to Tjoka’s 2:43:29. For the second time in as many months Tjoka had been outpaced by a Zimbabwean at the finish of the Nedbank Series event a race.
“For a long time Mamorolla (Tjoka) has been dominant in this series. We have discovered that if you stay close to her you have a chance to beat her in the sprint at the finish,” Moyo said.
Nderitu takes quick 10km
Meanwhile Kenyan Peter Nderitu took the lead from the start of the 10km, establishing and maintaining a 100m advantage until the last kilometres when South Africa’s Hendrick Ramaala made a last gasp effort to retain his crown to no avail. Nderitu clocked 28:18, the fastest time achieved on South African soil in over five years. Ramaala (28:28), 20 year old newcomer Lunuisa Lunuisa (28:29), and Stephen Mokoka (28:34) followed.
Irvette van Blerk gave South Africa their only victory of the day. She prevailed in the women’s 10km covering the distance in 34:08. Onele Dintwe (34:17) and Malawian teenager Milliam Thole (34:27) each set their career best times.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
