Too little, too late, was the story of Richard Mavuso’s bid for glory in the inaugural Vodacom Marathon, run along the scenic, rolling hills of Midrand on Sunday.
The plucky Mr Price athlete had focused not only on winning, but also on picking up the time incentive on offer. Sitting two minutes off the pace at the halfway mark, he quickly realised he was being left behind, upped the pace and swiftly reeled in five of the six-man breakaway group.
However, eventual winner Aaron ”Loverboy” Khoza proved to be one bridge too far and the 27-year-old Pretoria prison warden went on to win in 2:26,35.
”I gave them too much space. There was such a big gap between the front bunch and myself, it felt as if was leading the race. All that was missing was the lead vehicle,” joked Mavuso, last year’s winner of the Wally Hayward Marathon.
The win was another stepping stone back to the top of the road-running pile for Khoza, having been out of the sport for two years with a nagging hamstring injury.
”I won the Pick ‘n Pay marathon two weeks ago and if it keeps going as well as this, I will run the Two Oceans 56km on Easter Saturday,” he said.
Isaac Masilela occupied the final step on the winners rostrum with a time of 2:27.20, followed by Robert Malindi (Powerade) with 2:29,00 and Warinyane Lebopo (Mr Price) with 2:31,05.
Harmony’s Mable Seanego was in a class of her own and she pocketed the winner’s spoils with ease, clocking 3:00,26. She finished a good 15 minutes ahead of Nicola Lebos, who ran a personal best, and a further four minutes ahead of Catherine Naane (3:19,25).
Silvestor Moleko won his second 10km race and by clocking 30:18, also claimed the additional time incentive. He was hard pressed in the end by Jeffrey Gwebu (30:23), national steeple-chase champion Enoch Skosana (30:33), Ishmael Nyandoro (30:45) and Mr Price’s Aaron Gabonewe (30:56).
Poppy Mlambo (Mr Price) may be tiny in stature but she is a giant-killer when it comes to the road. She won in an impressive 36:35, followed by the two Phalula twins, Lebogang (36:59) and Dinah (37:29). — Sapa