/ 14 July 1997

Stir as Pooe wins short course

MONDAY, 11.45AM:

FRANK POOE clocked an amazing 1:02:24 to win the PG Bison Central Gauteng half marathon on Saturday.

Controversy erupted when it was suggested the course was 400m short, although it had been certified by the Central Gauteng referees association. Pooe’s win came as no suprise, but the time he registered led observers to believe that something was wrong.

Cornelius Poya and Simon Mphulanyane finished second and third with times of 1:02:24 and 1:03:05 respectively.

“There was no ways that we could have run these sort of times today,” said Mphulanyane in disbelief. “We were not running fast in front. It only got quick at 11km when Poya started to get angry with us. Then we surged,” he added.

The only other runner to break 1:03:30 was Meck Mothuli two years ago at Bedfordview. Sarah Mokgotla won the women’s section with a time of 1:18.40, followed by Sonja Laxton in 1:21.28 and Alison Lailvaux in 1:22.26.