Latest news with #BenoniNorthernsAthleticClub
The Citizen
23-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
De Bruin plans for silver after success in debut Comrades
With just under 11km to the Comrades Marathon finish line, Alison de Bruin entered the pain cave and relied only on grit and determination to push herself through intense fatigue and discomfort. She couldn't allow herself to quit because it was, after all, 'the ultimate human race'. As this was her debut on June 8, the Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) top runner was tested like never before. Despite 'niggles and aches', her stubbornness, tolerance for pain, and loyal support from friends and family – especially her dad – pushed her through. She persevered and ultimately crossed the finish line in Durban 'hurting' at 08:37:53 for a Bill Rowan medal, after a hard slog on the 89.98km downhill course from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. 'I was hurting, but after getting that far, I told myself I had it in the bag. I fought and stayed determined. I pushed in the last 8km. It may not have been the time I wanted, but the support around me pushed me to continue,' she said. After months of training -clocking 1 500km – crossing the finish line outside Moses Mabhida Stadium was 'the most incredible feeling of achievement' for the Rynfield Primary School teacher. 'I was beyond thrilled. After everything I had been through, and the months of training, I had made it. I was overwhelmed, proud, and happy that I achieved it. It might not have been the time I set out for, but I was still delighted,' De Bruin said. Although it's a personal achievement, the athlete ran the race for her father, who has been a pillar of support and inspiration since the day she first laced up her running shoes. 'He is passionate about running. He ran a lot when he was young but cannot do it anymore. I knew he was watching me and incredibly proud of me.' Reflecting on her overall performance, the St Dominic's Catholic School for Girls alumna said said race went according to plan. She was disciplined and maintained a decent 05:15 min/km pace, but nothing could have prepared her for the five major climbs – and their many cousins – on a course that was supposed to be downhill. 'Everyone told me it was the down run. But once I started, I realised it wasn't. It was completely different from what everyone said, so I had to stay disciplined in the first half,' said De Bruin. Now that she has a Bill Rowan medal, she knows what goal to aim for in next year's back-to-back race. 'I have noticed I am stronger on the uphills than the downhills. I am going to push to improve my time. I would love to get a silver medal and would be happy – even if I finish in 08:00. 'I want to improve my time by at least 30 minutes.' Also Read: Also Read: Murder case is again postponed At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
#Comrades2025: McGregor and Pretorius stride to fourth consecutive silvers
Shane McGregor and Nico Pretorius grabbed their fourth consecutive Comrades Marathon silver medals to lead the Benoni Northerns Athletic Club's (BNAC) charge in the down-run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on June 8. McGregor and Pretorius, along with Elias Kope and Darren Zabielski, were the BNAC's silver medalists, while Pretorius earned his green number for successfully completing his 10th race. Dijana and Steyn victorious Tete Dijana beat Piet Wiersma in another close race to win his third Comrades Marathon, while South Africa's ultra-distance queen, Gerda Steyn, claimed her fourth Comrades title. The Nedbank Running Club duo almost replicated their sprint finish from the 2023 down-run. But this time, down-run record holder Dijana ran a tactical race to hold off defending champion Wiersma, who made a late charge, to take the tape in 05:25:28 Wiersma crossed the line five seconds off the pace in 05:25:33 for second place, and Nikolai Volkov claimed the last podium position in 05:29:42. Steyn continued her dominance with another masterclass to win her third consecutive Comrades. She crossed the finish line in 05:51:19, which was 06:25 off her down-run lifetime best of 05:44:54, achieved in 2023 when she broke former BNAC top runner Frith van der Merwe's 34-year-old record. Nedbank's Alexandra Morozova clocked 05:55:56 for second place as two women finished within six hours. Kenyan debutant Shelmisth Muriuki completed the podium in 06:07:56. BNAC The BNAC once again led the Benoni charge as a total of 151 runners completed the 89.98km race out of 174 starters. The club earned four silver, 21 Bill Rowan, 19 Robert Mtshali, 50 bronze, and 57 Vic Clapham medals, with Pretorius, William Nkosi, and Keven Williams earning their green numbers. McGregor clocked 06:48:50 to become the club's first athlete at the finish. He was 35:23 off his down-run lifetime best of 06:13:27 from the 2023 down-run. This year's race was expected to produce slower times, as it covered 89.98km — about 2km more than the previous down-run. Pretorius followed McGregor in 07:11:07, while Kope earned his second consecutive silver medal in 07:23:05, following his debut last year. Zabielski clocked 07:29:54 for his silver. Jolinda du Plessis was the first female BNAC finisher, arriving at the People's Park outside Moses Mabhida Stadium in 08:27:46. Debutant Alison de Bruin followed in 08:37:53, and Alexandra Westner completed the club's top three in 08:38:36. Benoni Harriers Armstrong Khoza earned his double green number with a Bill Rowan medal. He clocked 08:54:20, becoming the club's first athlete at the finish. Amelda Holt clocked 11:07:28 to become the club's first female finisher in Durban, while Lizette Whittington earned a back-to-back medal. Of the 16 Harriers runners at the start in Pietermaritzburg, 13 finished. Overall, the club collected two Bill Rowan, two Robert Mtshali, two bronze, and seven Vic Clapham medals. Daveyton Hearts The club had 10 starters but eight finished the race, earning the club one Robert Mtshali, five bronze and two Vic Clapham medals. Benoni High Athletic Club Desmond Phillips was the club's only representative. He completed his ninth Comrades in 09:21:28 for a Robert Mtshali medal. Also Read: #Comrades2025: Northerns ready for ultimate human race Also Read: #Comrades2025: Benoni Harriers' Khoza to earn green number At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Northerns runner dedicates her eighth Comrades to child battling leukaemia
Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) member and Ashton International College teacher, Robyn Daniel, will dedicate her eighth Comrades Marathon on June 8 to leukaemia patient Zishan Reddy. Moved by the Grade Three learner's strength in the face of such a daunting journey, Robyn will run the 89km down-run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban in honour of the youngster, who is facing his second battle with the disease. 'Zishan is awaiting a bone marrow transplant and his strength has moved me deeply. His mom and sister are incredibly brave and watching their quiet courage unfold daily has inspired me to act,' Robyn said. She described Zishan as a 'true warrior' who, despite undergoing maintenance chemotherapy, attends school and still enjoys his soccer practice and matches for Ashton. 'His sister, Thuraya, is a ray of sunshine in my class. She is a beautifully mannered young lady and always so positive. Their mom, Goolshun, is also a pillar of strength who shows much strength and courage. 'They are an inspirational family who will be in my heart while running the Comrades Marathon this year and hopefully give me the extra push when I need it.' Robyn is a seasoned runner. She made her Comrades debut in the 2012 down run, finishing in 10:54:26 for a bronze medal. She added another bronze in 2015 and a Vic Clapham medal in 2016, before breaking the 10-hour barrier for the first time in the 2018 down-run, when she clocked 09:56:10 for her third bronze. Her performance in 2018 set the runner for two successive Robert Mtshali medals in 2019 and 2022, before finishing under nine hours for the first time in last year's up-run when she crossed the line in a PB 08:56:32 for her first Bill Rowan medal. Robyn stated they are still searching for a bone marrow match for Zishan and urged community members to assist the learner. 'Ashton College is making it easier for anyone interested by hosting a Stem Cell Donor drive on May 30, from 9am to 3pm. It is a simple swab test of your inner cheek. 'Alternatively, register on and everything gets sent to you at no charge,' said Robyn. Through Rainbows and Smiles, they have created a crowdfunding campaign where all donations will go to bone marrow research. To help, go to Also Read: SA Bone Marrow Registry to name a star after donor in stellar campaign Also Read: Hundred years of female participation in the Comrades Marathon At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Mmotlana and Westner win inaugural MNS Attorneys Carnival City Marathon
Modderbee Prison warder Lesiba Mmotlana and Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) runner Alexandra Westner emerged victorious in the men's and women's 42.2km races at the inaugural MNS Attorneys Carnival City Marathon on May 1. Mmotlana clinched the men's race ahead of Lucky Morajane and Happy Vuyo, while Westner beat Pertonella Khumalo and Sheree Rogers to the women's title. Men's race The Correctional Services RC runner was overwhelmed with emotions when talking to the media after his victory, saying that it was his first-ever marathon victory. 'It's my first time winning a race. Thanks to Ben Maluleka for pacing me in the first lap. I missed good times in marathons last year. I was on a program to achieve six consecutive sub-three-hour marathons. I achieved it today. That's why I'm emotional,' he said. ALSO READ: Runners give Carnival City Marathon route a thumbs up The athlete led the men's race early on but realised at the halfway point that he was in the lead. He ran the first 13km in 50:05, before covering the next 21km in 01:24:44. He then ran the remaining 8km in 38:09, eventually breaking the tape in 02:52:57, shattering his marathon record of 02:55:32 achieved at last year's Sanlam Cape Town Marathon by 02:35. 'I'm so excited. I'm now looking forward to the Comrades. I hope to achieve a back-to-back silver medal,' said Mmotlana. Morajane was 04:08 off the pace after finishing second in 02:57:05 and Vuyo completed the top three 19 seconds after the Team Eish runner. Women's race Victory was the furthest thing on Westner's mind when she stood at the starting line. She was targeting a Comrades Marathon C seeding and maintained an average pace of 05:08min/km in the first half of the double-lapper race. She breezed through the first 13km in 01:06:23 in third place before taking the lead and completing the next 21km in 01:47:54. Westner increased her pace to 5:09min/km in the last 8km to eventually breast the tape in 03:38:58. 'I'm extremely happy. The first place is honestly a bonus. I was going for my Comrades C seeding. A win makes my heart happy. It was a good race, well-organised and it had such a good vive at the water stations,' she said. The runner-up Khumalo of Run Zone crossed the line in 03:41:05, while the Boksburg Athletic Club's (BAC) Sheree Rogers finished 14 seconds behind in 03:41:19. Half-marathon Kabelo Mwahla and Deneke Snyman clocked 01:10:32 and 01:37:29, respectively, to win the men's and women's 21.1km races. Qhubeka AC's Mwahla beat the BAC's Maphuti Majetja, who clocked 01:10:36 for second place, and Desmond Makola (01:17:13) to the title. Alberton Athletic Club's Snyman finished 01:44 ahead of runner-up Claudia Figueira of Bedfordview Athletic Club, with Figueira's teammate, Veronica Warmington, third in 01:43:00. Tshiamo Sedumedi, the MD of the headline sponsor, MNS Attorneys, expressed gratitude to the over 1 800 runners who participated in the race. 'Kudos to Mamepe Striders and the MNS team that put this together. It was well-organised. It was our first race. We were test driving. We'll go back to the drawing board to see what else can be done to improve the race. The intention is to have this partnership with Mamepe for as long as possible,' he said. ALSO READ: In Pictures: BNAC Marathon a winner for the community! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
