The stage is set for the 2002 Spoornet Great Train Race. At 6am on Saturday morning the customary gun blast will signal the start of the 23rd edition of this epic event which places man up against one of his greatest inventions, the steam engine.
Seventy two kilometres of sweat, pleasure, camaraderie, excitement and hard work awaits some
4 000 enthusiastic competitors as they make their journey to the tiny town of Loerie in the heart of the Eastern Cape, for one of the best spectacles of the year on the South African sporting calendar.
Defending men’s club champions, New Balance Wanderers, are determined to erase the gap between it and machine and take the human race back up to the podium as winners.
However, even with the likes of South African stars, Norman Dlomo and Simon Mpolo in their midst’s, they may not have it all their own way this time around.
Mr Price Northern Gauteng and Liberty Nike have issued stern warnings that they mean business.
1996 Atlanta Olympic marathon gold medalist, Josiah Thugwane, and SA Half Marathon champion, Abner Chipu, will be leading Liberty Nikes charge, while SA 5 000m record holder, Shadrack Hoff, and SA athletes, Enoch Skosana, Simon Morolong, Aaron Gabonewe, and Patrick Koatsane provide the core of the Mr Price Northern Gauteng side.
With the late withdrawal of Mr Price Western Province from the line-up due to several of their athletes unable to make it back from abroad in time, the fight at the front of the field will largely be left to the three Gauteng teams in the quest for glory.
However, never write off the conglomerate of universities taking part. Maties, lead by SA 1 500m record holder, Johan Landsman, RAU, Tukkies, Kovsies and Mr Price UPE will all be major factors and play major roles in the outcome of the race. And, do not forget the local charge lead by Liberty Nike Port Elizabeth, Aberdare Cables and New Balance Athletics Club, both comprising a sophisticated pack with an excellent array of talent right through from positions one to ten.
The tertiary institutions are set to dominate the ladies race. Defending champions, RAU, will not be making the trip down to Port Elizabeth this year and it looks at this stage that the team from Liberty Nike Gauteng will be the early favourites. But, as all sporting enthusiasts know, anything can happen on the day and it is so easy for the tables to turn.
New Balance Wanderers, Tukkies, Maties and Mr Price UPE are set to provide Liberty Nike with a stern test and a good run for their money.
In the other sections, Transnet, Aberdare Cables and Alloy Wheels International will slog it out in the Companies category, while Liberty Nike and Nokia Algoa Athletics Club meet face to face in the veteran men’s division. The annual contest between Caritas and Dalrose for the Primary Schools title is sure to live up to its usual expectations, while Kwamagxaki High could surprise more fancied teams to take home all the honours amongst the High Schools. – Sapa