The friendly city of Gqeberha is fast becoming known as the city of records and that much was evident at the 2023 Nelson Mandela Bay Half marathon which incorporated the Athletics South Africa Half Marathon Championships.
Starting in perfect conditions outside Pollock Beach on Marine Drive, 1500 runners set out over the looped course which also took runners past the Humewood Golf Club and Nelson Mandela University and was perfect for fast times.
Up front in the men’s race, Mandela Bay local athlete Thabang Mosiako ran the race of his life to perfectly time a sprint finish to emerge victorious in a world class time of 1:00:28 to obliterate his lifetime best as well as set a new Eastern Province record. “I am so excited and happy but before anything I must say thank you to Eastern Province Athletics, Nelson Mandela Bay, my coach Michael Mbambani, my training partners and my sponsor Nedbank because without them none of this would have happened,” said an elated Mosiako who also picked up the R80 000 first place prize.
“I fought for the province, and I fought for the city to keep the title here, so I am happy with the victory and of course the new record.” Mosiako’s time was also a new course record bettering Stephen Mokoka’s 2019 course record of 1:00:56.
Behind him, Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana stormed through seconds later in a new Lesotho national record of 1:00:34 with South Africa’s Precious Mashele, a former winner of the event in 2021, finishing third in 1:00:42.
In the women’s race, South Africa’s Glenrose Xaba led a pack of 4 and pushed the pace from the word go with only Kenya’s Betty Chepkemoi and the Ethiopian duo of Salem Gebre and Bekelech Wariyo able to keep pace. Such was her pace that Xaba recorded lifetime bests through 10km and 15km.
It came down to a two-women sprint as nearing Pollock Beach it was Xaba against Chepkemoi. In the final kilometer, Chepkemoi who on paper was the fastest women in the field by some 3 minutes got the advantage and kicked to cross the line victorious in 1:08:33 with Xaba smashing her lifetime best in 2nd with a 1:08:36 to also retain her ASA National title. Wariyo hung on for 3rd in 1:09:03. Back in 6th, Lesotho’s Blandina Makatisi set a new Lesotho national record with a time of 1:09:44.
“I am happy with my victory today because I was out some time with injury so winning today shows that I am coming back,” said Chepkemoi. South Africa’s Xaba was elated with defending her national title. “I am very happy and still a bit in shock with how I ran today,” said Xaba. “I think Gqeberha is definitely my second home because I always run well when I am here.”
Race director Michael Mbambani was happy with how the event unfolded. “We are always blessed with good weather for our event and today was no exception,” said Mbambani. “Hats off to my LOC who work so hard behind the scenes and thank you to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for the support and Athletics South Africa. Next year is our 10th edition of the event and we will be going bigger than ever before!”
NMC Cllr Bassie Kamana was elated that the title and record stayed in the Bay. “The boys kept the mandate given yesterday that we are keeping the title at home so a big congratulations to Thabang,” said Kamana. “It is safe to say that the Nelson Mandela Bay is the home to running in the country and we are second to none.”
