.:The Lowvelder Online - Die Laevelder Op Die Web:.

Written by Catharina Robbertze - Friday, 30 July 2010 08:26

Hundreds of runners descended on the Legogote Villagers Marathon Club last weekend to show their steel in the club's July race.
While most of the runners simply entered for the fun of it, there were a few serious long-distance lovers who showed their mettle as quality runners on the day.
Runners of the Nelspruit Marathon Club (NMC) performed well and frequently featured in the top three in all the categories of the different races.
The route took runners from the club to White River Estate and after about seven kilometres there were not a soul in sight and the only sound one could hear was the crunch of gravel as the first runners raced past.
Once the front-runners were on their way though, it was the average joes' turn and a festive atmosphere reigned on the course as friends and fellow runners walked, ran and chatted their way up and down the steep hills.
In the half-marathon Ntuthuko Maseko of Nedbank continued his dominance of the local running scene and finished his 21,1km in a fast time of 1:13:47. Reuben Malatjie of NMC was second, clocking in at 1:18:33 while July Mashego of LVCC came in at 1:19:30.
The ladies also delivered some good times as Martie Naude of Laeveld Kanoklub won the race in 1:36:56. Allison Hay of NMC was second in a time of 1:38:51, her teammate Norma Crampton finished in 1:42:17.
In the 10km race, Abednico Mashaba of Born to Win won with a time of 33:49. Samson Ngoede of NMC took the second place in 35:46 with Peter Lekuba of LVCC third in 37:25.
The ladies 10km race was a close affair as Daleen Botha of NMC had to sprint to keep her first place.
She finished in 50:13 as Carlu Meyer of Laerskool Nelspruit and Liza Ackerman was close on her heels in 50:24 and 50:25.