Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon – World Athletics Elite Label Road Race And ASA Championships

• Top Class Field Expected
• Road Closure List
• Biggest Half Marathon in South Africa
• Largest Prize Money for a Half Marathon
• World Athletics Elite Label Road Race

Top Nelson Mandela Bay road runner Melikhaya Frans and elite SA long-distance runner Glenrose Xaba will turn out in defence of their national 21.1km titles in Gqeberha tomorrow.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon is back in full force with nearly 1500 athletes expected to line up at 07.00 tomorrow at Pollok Beach, Summerstrand.

The race, organized by Eastern Province Athletics, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, holds World Athletics Elite Label road race status, and will incorporate the ASA Half Marathon National Championships. The scene is set for another spectacular finish with top local, national and international athletes competing on South African soil.

Last year saw a nail-biting finish when Lesotho’s Namakoe Nkhasi won in his personal best time of 1:00:01, narrowly beating local favourite Melikhaya Frans by two seconds. Frans smashed his lifetime best by over a minute as he set a current EP record and at the same time won his first national title in 1:01:03. Nkhasi and Frans will be on the starting line again and will expect hot competition from Kenya’s Kipkemoi Kiprono and Ethiopia’s Dinkalem Ayele, who are looking to improve on their personal best times.

Frans, who holds the national 30km record, faces SA half marathon record holder Stephen Mokoka (Athletics Gauteng North), national 10km record holder Precious Mashele (Central Gauteng Athletics) and SA 5000m record holder Elroy Gelant (Athletics Central North West).

Top local runner, Thabang Mosiako hopes to improve on his 61.59 personal best on this rapid 21km route, feeling strong after his recent 27.52 personal best 10km in Gqeberha.

Desmond Zibi, of Ikhamva athletics club, will maintain the EP 55-59 age group record of 1.12.30 in his sights, which he narrowly missed last year.

On the woman’s international front, last year the race was dominated by Ethiopia’s Ftaw Zeray who led from gun to tape to claim the victory in 1:06:57, but will not be competing this year. Confirmed competitors are Genet Habela Abdurkadir, of Ethiopia, who is looking forward to improving her personal best time of 1.12.57 when she last competed in the 2018 edition of the Half Marathon, recent winner of the Two Oceans Half Marathon, Emma Pallant, who is looking to produce a memorable debut in this distance and Ethiopia’s Chaltu Bedo, who boasts a personal best half marathon time of 1.11.50.

Glenrose Xaba will be aiming to secure her third straight ASA half-marathon title after setting a 10km personal best of 32.12 in Gqeberha last week, but the AGN star will maintain to beat a quality line-up to retain her national crown. The women’s national field features Kesa Molotsane (Athletics Free State), in-form CGA athletes Cacisile Sosibo and Cian Oldknow, and national marathon champion Annie Bothma (WP Athletics).

The Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon has built a reputation as one of the fastest 21km courses on the African continent.

Last year four national records fell as Lesotho’s Namakoe Nkhasi (1:01:01) and Neheng Khathala (1:09:57) bettered the Mountain Kingdom’s men’s and women’s records respectively, while Daniel Paulus (1:01:10) and Helalia Johannes (1:07:49) did the same for Namibia.

Race director, Mike Mbambani, confirmed that his team is ready to deliver the 9th edition of this propitious race which has grown significantly since its launch in 2014.

“This is the biggest half marathon in the country and it’s the richest in the country in terms of prize money.

“At stake is not only the SA title but also valuable World Athletics Ranking points and R80,000 for first plot. “The total prize pot is R553,000, with the added bonus of R152,100 in ASA Championship prize money, which includes R15 000 for the first South African male and female to finish the ASA Half Marathon Championships.

“We anticipate more than 15 elite international and foreign athletes in the race from different countries like Lesotho, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ethiopia and Britain, as well as many top local and national athletes competing on South African soil.” added Mbambani.

MMC of Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture, Bassie Kamana, of NMBM, the race’s title sponsor, has endorsed this event which has been ranked by World Athletics as an Elite Label Road Race for the third consecutive year.

“Boosting sports tourism is high on the city’s agenda and partnering with high profile events like the NMB Half Marathon, which will be broadcast live on SuperSport, promotes international participation and exposure, which is well suited to our tourism goals. “We at NMBM pride ourselves on becoming the destination of choice for hosting both national and international events, and this marathon is the realization of that objective,” said Kamana.

The 21.1km route is quick and flat and runs on the coastal road. Runners will start from 07.00 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 05h00 will ensure a safe rush and minimum inconvenience to the public.

The race will be broadcast live via SuperSport Variety 4. Spectators are encouraged to support the race and athletes can follow results on FinishTime.

Enquiries: Race Director, Mike Mbambani 079 149 6796.

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