Latest news with #BenoniNorthernsMarathon
The Citizen
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Nel hits top gear at Gallopers race
Benoni Harriers' top runner Bronwyn Nel ran an incredible lifetime best to clinch the junior women's title at the ASF Gallopers 15km race in Leondale on July 6. Averaging just over 04:00min/km, the middle-distance sensation clocked 01:00:34 personal best in the women's 15km to cross the line in third place overall and first in the junior women's race. Nel finished behind the Benoni Northerns Marathon women's half-marathon winner Zanele Maisa of Waterfall AC, who won in 55:55, and runner-up Gillian Farquaharson of Run Zone, who was 03:32 off the pace after crossing the line in 59:26. The USA-bound athlete has been in superb form since the beginning of the year. She used the race to prepare for the Indiana Institute of Technology's cross-country season. 'Coach Richard O'Donoghue told me to use the race as a long run training to build a solid base for when I leave for the USA. I am pleased to finish third overall and first in the junior race. I'm thankful for the support from everyone in our group,' she said. The Harriers' junior runners were in a dominant mood as they strutted their talent in the race. Kiana Pepler completed the top three in the junior women's race, clocking 01:02:49 for the bronze. She was sixth overall. Mary-Jane Nel clocked 01:09:51 for fourth place in the junior women's race, while Kaitlyn Mackay was fifth with 01:15:35. In the junior men's event, Ockert Winter was fourth in 01:02:49 while Liam Hendrikse and Divan Klein were fifth and sixth, respectively, in a 01:10:10 photo finish. Former East Athletic Club's (EAC) Avuma Phez, now with North West University, won the junior men's race in 48:50. Lesedi AC's Simphiwe Buzwa finished second 08:27 later, and Thapelo Khumalo of Boxer completed the top three in 59:22. Nkosiyethu Sotyantya beat Kenyan Paul Omuya by three seconds to clinch the men's main race. The African Bank Runners athlete clocked 47:37 for his victory, while the Kenyan, winner of the veteran men's race, crossed the line in 47:40 for second place. The Boksburg Athletic Club's (BAC) Maphuti Majetja was 20 seconds off after finishing the race in 47:57 to round out the podium. Also Read: Stoltz podiums at BNAC Marathon Also Read: Stoltz races to podium after recovering from injury At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Brakpan runner strives for nationals qualification to honour father
Brakpan resident, Donovan van Zyl started the provincial cross-country season with a blistering run at the Kwa-Thema Stadium earlier this month in his bid to qualify for the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Cross Country Championships in Middleburg in September. Van Zyl began the year on the front foot with a victory in the 5km races at the Benoni Northerns Marathon on April 13, followed by an exceptional performance at the MNS Attorneys Carnival City Marathon on May 1. Though the teenager's form, hard work and drive will likely earn him a spot in the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) team for the nationals, he's inspired to do it for his wheelchair-bound father. 'It's a big dream to go to the nationals. My dad inspired me to do this. My coach, Jared de Waal, also helps me a lot,' he said. The Irun Athletics Club athlete's father, Andrè Swart, is a former rugby player who also excelled in athletics. Swart was involved in a car accident that landed him in a wheelchair. 'He was an SA athlete. He was one of the best. He did all athletics except for the long distances. I'm doing this for him.' Asked about his performance in the first CGA Cross Country League meeting on May 3, where he clocked 22:20 in the U17 boys' 6km race, Van Zyl said he was headed in the right direction. While the race gave him a sense of what to expect as the season progressed, he was disappointed with its aftermath. He started at a blistering pace, which affected him at the end because he finished seventh. In the remaining leagues, however, the middle-distance runner will adopt a conservative approach, allowing him to hit his strides in the second half. ALSO READ: Medals and memories shine at SAAFA's 80th anniversary banquet 'The biggest lesson was starting to avoid starting fast. I must ease into the race and go for it once I've assessed my competition and my body is warm. Cross-country is tough. It needs you to strategise,' Van Zyl said. He started running because it 'clears my mind on tough days and puts my head into a good space'. Reflecting on his journey in the sport, he said, 'It's been hard, but I work hard. Coach Jared motivates us to chase our dreams.' Van Zyl's biggest goal is to go to the Olympic Games, but first, he must tackle the easy task of qualifying for his first cross-country nationals. 'I will give it my all in the remaining league.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
