The Daily Dispatch E-Edition

Top SA field for NMB 1City Marathon

Strong Gauteng contingent will provide challenge for Bay athletes

A number of top South African athletes will be competing on Saturday in the NMB 1City Marathon, which will start and finish at the Fairview Racecourse in Greenbushes, Gqeberha.

Coach Lungi Bikwani of Gauteng is bringing down a group of top Gauteng runners who want to use the marathon to qualify for the Two Oceans in April.

Xolisa Tyali, 33, former winner of the Two Oceans Marathon, whose best marathon time is a blistering 2:13 will be a strong contender, together with veteran Vincent Seng, 40, former winner of the Loskop Marathon, whose best marathon time is 2:16.

Rirhandzu Rhangani, 38, will also be part of Lungi’s team — he finished sixth in the sub vets category in the 2021 Cross Country National Championships.

Twin sisters Lebo and Lebogang Phalula will be setting a tough pace for Bay women athletes — Lebo’s best marathon time is 2:33, while Lebogang has clocked 2:36.

“It’s the last marathon that my athletes are competing in for this year and even though their training has been disrupted by Covid-19 limitations, they are in good form and are looking forward to using this race as a qualifier for the Two Oceans next year,” Lungi said.

Thabang Masiako, from North West, will be the man to watch for the 21km finish. Thabang’s personal best 21km time is 61.59. “I will be very happy with a 62min finish as this is my last race and my body is a bit tired,” Thabang said.

Bay coach Mike Mbambani of Ikhamva Athletics Club said: “It is with great excitement that we will be hosting the first marathon, the NMB 1City Marathon, in the city for a long time.

“We are expecting good times from our local athletes as they have had a long rest and are ready for this marathon challenge,” he said.

Luyanda Tshangana of New Brighton, who recently won the Pineapple 27km in Port Alfred, is a strong contender for an excellent finish time.

The Bay event was last held in February 2020, when top South African runner Ntsindiso Mphakathi, running for Entsika Athletics Club, thundered home with a huge lead of nearly 1km in 2:18.41.

The 2021 event has attracted much interest from out of town, particularly East London, and more than 500 athletes have already entered.

Thanks to the support of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality and its well-established Legacy Project sponsorship, the

We are expecting good times from our local athletes as they have had a long rest and are ready for this

male and female marathon winners will pocket R15,000 cash each, from a total prize purse of R171,000 for all marathon and half-marathon age category winners.

The NMB 1City Marathon will also be used to select the Eastern Province Champions, for the best marathon time per category.

Both the 42.2km marathon and the 21.1km will start and finish at the Fairview Racecourse, in Draaifontein Road, Greenbushes.

The scenic marathon route follows a circular route via Altona, Seaview, Westlands and Tembani.

For more info, contact Michael Mbambani on 079149-6796 or Irene on 083-2991775.

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2021-12-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

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