ATHLETICS: Julian Drew
ATHLETES and spectators alike will be hoping for calm weather in Durban tomorrow morning as a classy field takes to the road in the Ohlsson’s Great South Run.
The race, which acts as the South African half- marathon championships from which the teams for the world half- marathonchampionships to be staged in four weeks time in Oslo will be chosen, features a pedigree field in the men’s race, which is capable of running a very fast time.
Last year, in the first staging of the event which is modelled on the Great North Run in Newcastle, England, Ethiopia’s Kidane Michael won a thrilling race which was only decided in the final 250m after three athletes entered King’s Park Stadium neck-and-neck.
Michael got the better of Kenya’s Joseph Kibor and Western Transvaal’s Adam Motlagale to win in an excellent time of 61:06. The Ethiopian has returned again this year to defend his title.
Kibor has not made the trip, however, but Kenya will be represented by Sammy Kibet, who has a best time of 61:13 over the 21.1km distance this year, and Daniel Ondieki Moyaka with a best of 62:13.
Zimbabwe are sending a squad of seven athletes including three of their team which finished fourth in the world relay championships in Greece earlier this year. A name to watch is 21-year-old Brighton Chipere, of whom coach Costas Timveos is expecting big things in the future.
It is Timveos who has been largely responsible for today’s current crop of fine distance runners from our northern neighbour, including Tendai Chimusasa, who set two world bests on the road last year, and Julia Sakala who is representing Zimbabwe in the Commonwealth Games.
The local challenge will come from the likes of Xolile Yawa, Matthews Motshwarateu, Josiah Thugwane, Abel Mokibe, Lawrence Peu and John Mabitle. Yawa and Motshwarateu have both hit good form lately and will be using the event to sharpen up for forthcoming marathons.
Yawa defends his Berlin title in three weeks time, while 36-year-old Motshwarateu makes his debut in Chicago in October.
The women’s field lacks the depth of the men’s race. Zola Pieterse will be hoping to repeat her win of last year, when she had her first outing over the distance.
Her main opposition will come from Nicole Whiteford and Grace de Oliveira.
The sponsors have added an extra incentive to the R15 000 first prizes, with R50 000 on offer to anyone who can better the official world best times of Moses Tanui (59:47) and Ingrid Kristiansen (68:31), but even under perfect conditions Ohlsson’s money is unlikely to leave the bank.