NELSON MANDELA BAY HALF MARATHON – INTERNATIONAL ENTRANT
The Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon is back in full force and will take place at Pollok Beach in Summerstrand on June 4. The race, which holds World Athletics Elite Label status, will also serve as the ASA Half Marathon National Championships.
EPA is gearing up for approximately 1500 athletes, as due to covid limitations, last year only allowed for a maximum of 250 athletes.
Director of NMB Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture, Charmaine Williams, has endorsed this event organized by EP Athletics.
“Our Municipality continues to play a key role in developing local talented athletes in the region and the seeds of the Legacy Project are now bearing fruit.”
“Boosting sports tourism is high on the city’s agenda and partnering in high profile events which achieve international participation and exposure like the NMB Half Marathon are well suited to this goal,” said Williams.
Gqeberha athletes are looking forward to the return of the half-marathon, and competing with top national and international athletes.
Last year Precious Mashele narrowly beat Stephen Mokoka with an impressive finish in 1.01.17 with the foreign contingent ensuring fast times in the women’s contest.
Brillan Jepkor Kipkoech of Kenya dominated the women’s battle to win in 1.07.32 with Sisay Alemaddis of Ethiopia in second place in 1.08.04.
Glenrose Xaba was the best South African athletes, in fifth position overall, earning the gold medal in 1.09.30.
Could the first sub 60 min half marathon be seen on South African soil? With a strong contingent of internationals expected in both the men’s and women’s fields, an exciting finish is a anticipated. Spectators will be allowed to watch the race and the event will also be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Amongst some of the top foreign male contenders is Meshack Kiptoo Lelgut of Kenya whose personal best half marathon time is 1.02.28 which he ran in the Prague Half Marathon in April this year, finishing 12th. Meshack was inspired to start training by his cousin Nicholas Kimeli, who is an Olympic finalist. Nicholas encouraged him to move to Iten and join a training group. His first international race was the 2021 Cape Town 12km where he was a pacer and finished in position 4. His last international race was the Prague Half Marathon where he ran his personal best time.
Ayele Kebede Eshete of Ethiopia ran his personal best half marathon in Spain in April this year, 1.04.36, to finish 10th in the Movistar Medio Maraton de Madrid. Ayele started training in 2019 and competed in local cross-country races. He finished 3rd at the 2022 national cross-country Championships and made his debut in road running at the 2022 Madrid Marathon, where he ran his personal best time.
Kenneth Kemboi Rotich, 30, of Kenya has a personal best time of 1.03.27 (2016) but finished the Meia Maratona Internacional Da Paz in Angola, in 5th position, in 1.05.16 in April this year. Kenneth made his road running debut at the 2016 Nairobi Standard Chartered Half Marathon, finishing 3rd with a time of 1:03:27. This was followed by two consecutive wins of the Khon Kaen Half Marathon in 2017 and 2018, and wins at the 2019 Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok and 2019 Palermo Marathon.
On the women’s front, Ftaw Zeray Bezabh of Ethiopia ran her personal best half marathon time this year, 1.07.42 in the Adizero Road to Records Half Marathon in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Ftaw started running when she was 10 years old, just because she enjoyed it and not to be an athlete. It was only in 2012 in school where she started training as an athlete. She made her international in 2016 at the Helong Half Marathon (China), where she finished 3rd and ran her personal best time in Germany this year.
The race is justifiably credited as the fastest half marathon in the country and with generous prize money one can expect fast times.
At stake is not only the South African title, but also valuable World Athletics Ranking points and an enticing R80 000 for first prize and a total prize pot of R277 500. In addition, South African athletes will be vieing for the lucrative ASA Championship prizes totaling R152 100, which includes R15 000 for the first South African male and female to finish the ASA Half Marathon Championships.
The route is fast and flat and runs on the coastal road. Runners will start from 07.30 and complete a circular route. Starting from Marine Drive, at Pollock Beach, they will head north to Driftsands junction, then south on Marine drive through NMU, down Admiralty road with the second lap turning at Driftsands junction to return to finish at Pollock Beach.
A full rolling closure from 03h00 will ensure a safe run and minimum inconvenience to the public.
Athletes can enter online on www.webtickets.co.za or at major sports stores. The first 400 athletes will receive a Nike T-shirt, and all finishers will receive a medal.
Closing date for online and manual entries will be on Saturday, 21 May 2022.
Collection of race numbers as well as late entries, will be available at registration at Southern Sun The Marine Hotel from Thursday, 2 June, from 12h00 to 18h00 and from 10h00 to 22h00 on Friday, 3 June. No collection of race numbers will be allowed on the morning of the event.
Enquiries: Mike Mbambani 079 149 6796.