Johann and Lyndi Roelofse achieved something as brother and sister during the Sappi TuksRace on Saturday that doesn’t happen every day: standing on the winners’ podium.
Johann won the 10km race in 31 minutes. Lyndi was second (37:41) in the women’s 10km race. The brother-sister combination is actually starting to make a habit of it. Last year in October at the Benoni Northerns Night Race, both won the 10km. Johann in record time.
Johann admits that he didn’t expect to win. All that mattered to him was running a good race.
“When it comes to road races, I back myself running uphill. On Saturday, there was a hill about two kilometres from the finish, where I made my move. My strategy worked. I was in the lead. From then on, I never relented on my pace.
Rantso Mokopane (Sefako Makgatho University) finished second in 31:20, with Sylvestor Kipsang (Nedbank) third in 31:35.
The women’s race was won by Bonolo Makhubela (Boxer Superstores), running 36:23. Lyndi (Boxer) was second in 37:41, and Megan Waller (Nedbank) was third in 38:12.
Lyndi is a little disappointed not to have won. The spectators along the route let her know that she was in first place.
“But I’m not really complaining. As it is said in sports, that’s how the cookie crumbles. I ran my fastest time in almost eight years on Saturday. It shows me that the hard training is paying off.”
Regarding the fact that she and her brother were both on the podium, she said, “It’s not something we deliberately try to do, but it’s nice when it works out like this.”
Lyndi has always been an athlete. Johann had dreams of making a name for himself in cricket and tennis. With the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, Lyndi suggested that he start jogging to stay fit.
“So I started jogging in Grade Eight. Things didn’t work out for me in the other sports as I had hoped, but it didn’t matter. Jogging is now the sport for me. When I run, I forget about all my problems,” says Johann.
Lyndi agrees with her brother.
“Jogging is also a way for me to clear my head, and of course, I like to do things a little faster than other people. Jogging is one of the easiest ways to stay fit. What makes it even more special is that everyone can run at a pace they are comfortable with. When jogging, you are in competition with yourself.”
The big goal for Johann and Lyndi is to compete in the 5000 metres at the South African Athletics Championships. The 20-year-old hopes to win a medal at the SA U23 Championships. He suspects that this will mean he will have to run a time very close to 14 minutes. Lyndi hopes to finish in the top five in the 5000 metres at the national senior meeting. Her other goal is a top-ten finish in the 10 km at the SA Cross Country Championships.
South African marathon legend, Stephen Mokoka, has shown as a veteran that there is truth to the saying old but not yet cold. He ran the 21km in 1:07:32. Tebogo Segalagata was second in 1:07:37, and Jacob Kiplagat third in 1:08:20.
The women’s race was won by Leandri van der Merwe in 1:27:21. Anja Heenop was second in 1:28:34, and Yolande Maclean third in 1:29:52.
A total of 1560 athletes completed the 21km, and 2512 finished in the 10km.
