Latest news with #NedbankRunningClub
The Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Elite Eastern Cape runners bag PBs at Comrades
It rained personal best times for a group of Eastern Cape elite runners in the 2025 Comrades Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday. The first runner to cross the finish line with EC roots was the Xhorha-born star athlete, Sithembiso Mqhele of the Nedbank Running Club, who completed his race in 5:42:11, beating his 2024 time of 5:57:44. Mqhele said he had a good race this year compared to last year. 'I executed the plan as instructed by my coach, which was for me to run at the back of the leading bunch so that I could take on all those dropping back from the bunch. We reached all targets, even though I did not get into the top 10,' Mqhele said. Because he runs for a club affiliated with KwaZulu-Natal Athletics, Mqhele was the second provincial athlete to finish the race after Bongumusa Mthembu. Having improved his time and overall position in the race from 38th on the up run to 13th on Sunday, Mqhele said he was thrilled to take home yet another Wally Hayward medal. Mthatha's Musa Zweni, who finished his race in 05:50:59, almost eight minutes better than his previous finish of 05:58:47, was the second most highly placed Eastern Cape athlete. 'I am very happy with my new personal best time. We have a three-year plan with the coach, so we have ticked one year and we continue with the plan,' Zweni said. Impala Marathon Club's Mthandazo Qhina from Qunu, who now lives in the Western Cape and has represented that province in several national competitions, completed his race in 5:56:46, an improved performance from his 6:01 time in 2024. 'I spent a lot of time at the back of the bunch, and that delayed me,' Qhina said. 'If I were in the front, the top 10 would not have been far. I could have made it because the people in the top 10 are the same people I was training with. 'Getting into the top 10 was not difficult for me, but the only problem was that the coach said I must be at the back with my other teammate who was in the top 10 before.' Another Nedbank Running Club athlete, Lulamile Danile, recorded his personal best with a 6:24:53, improving his previous finish of 6:17:40 in the race. Danile said he was excited to run his personal best time and will now focus on improving. Zwelonke Athletic Club's Thulani Sidziya hit the finish mat at the People's Park in Durban in 6:44:21, taking home another silver medal, in an improved time from his previous 7:16:43 in 2024. Sidziya said he planned to run an improved sub-7:00 for another silver medal. 'I came in at 6:44:21. I am very happy with this result because it is the result of a properly executed race plan,' Sidziya said. Hollywood Athletics Club's novice Owen Tshibo introduced himself with a 7:20:53 finish for his first run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, his first-ever ultra-marathon. Tshibo was pleased with his silver medal time. 'To be honest, this was not my target coming to Comrades. But I set a target for something I don't know, since this was my first race. 'I am very happy to be getting this silver medal because many people don't get silver in their first Comrades,' he said. — WATCH: We are the Champions news agency
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!
TimesLIVE
09-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Dijana says he conquered ‘the devil' to win 2025 Comrades
Tete Dijana felt he conquered 'the devil' by winning the 2025 Comrades Marathon on Sunday's , recovering from a gruelling run where he struggled with dizziness and cramps to finish 14th last year. The 37-year-old from Mahikeng in the North West crossed the line in 5hrs 25min 28sec to bag his third Comrades Marathon down run triumph. He won the back-to-back downs in 2022 and 2023. Dijana beat second-placed Dutchman and last year's winner Piet Wiersma by just five seconds, replicating the sprint finish between the Nedbank Running Club teammates and result of the last down race in 2023.
IOL News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Dijana declares himself the true Down Run champion
Tete Dijana won the men's race in the Comrades on Sunday. Photo: Sibonelo Ngcobo Independent Media Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo Independent Media "Indeed, I am a real Down Run champion!" There was an uncharacteristically cocky air about Tete Dijana late Sunday morning, deep within the bowels of the Moses Mabhida Stadium, as he addressed the post-race media conference. Responding to some questions with monosyllabic answers, and with his face cupped in his hands as he sat at the head table, he gave the impression of someone who would rather have been elsewhere. But make no mistake — Dijana was right where he wanted to be: in the spotlight, the centre of attention, basking in the glory of a Comrades Marathon victory that settled more than a few scores. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ First, he comfortably beat his Nedbank Running Club teammate Piet Wiersma — the Dutchman who had given him a major scare two years ago during the Down Run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Second, he made up for last year's nightmare run, which saw him plagued by dizziness and cramps, ultimately finishing outside the top 10 and missing out on a third successive Comrades crown. Wiersma, the 2023 Up Run winner, was tipped by many as the stronger contender heading into this year's race. But Dijana, ever determined, proved his supremacy on the Down Run. 'I came prepared,' he said. 'I made sure Piet worked hard. I made some surges and moves so I could be comfortable. In the last 10 kilometres he was closing in, so I accelerated a little and that gap opened up.' He said to expect the unexpected 😏 Tete Dijana puts the struggles of 2024 behind him with an emphatic win 👇 📺 Stream #Comrades2025 on DStv: — SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) June 8, 2025 Dijana clocked 5:25:28 — just five seconds ahead of Wiersma — although the margin of victory felt more comfortable than in 2022, when he won by only three seconds. When asked how it felt to cross the finish line first, his initial reply was simple: 'Unexplainable.' But with a bit more probing, he opened up. 'I was so excited and also emotional, because I remembered what happened last year when I was in my best shape — but the devil came,' he said, referencing his inexplicable 2023 struggles, which also affected his training group, affectionately known as The Happy Bunch. 'I'm happy that the devil did not attack me this year.' Instead, Dijana attacked the race. Alongside Wiersma and Edward Mothibi, he launched a late charge that overhauled Onalenna Khonkhobe, who had led from the start until just 18 kilometres from the finish. Dijana said the support from fans inspired him to run with renewed purpose. 'I'd been getting pressure from social media — my fans were saying, 'Don't let it go again.' They used the word again. I had to fix everything, because those people — when I was down last year, emotionally and physically — lifted my spirits.' 'When I was training, I told myself I wasn't going to run for me, I was going to run for them.' And run for them he did. Their cheers echoed through the stadium as he crossed the finish line, completing a hat-trick of Down Run victories following his triumphs in 2022 and 2023. He is, indeed, a true Down Run champion.
TimesLIVE
08-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
‘It was under control,' says Dijana on another epic Comrades clash with Wiersma
Tete Dijana, the 2025 Comrades Marathon winner, said he was 'in full control' even as Dutchman and Nedbank Running Club teammate Piet Wiersma made a charge in the last 2km to close the gap to within about 50m. Dijana and Wiersma's rivalry is becoming the stuff of Comrades legend. The South African, a former security guard from Mahikeng in the North West, pipped the Dutchman by three seconds in a sprint finish in the 2023 down run. Wiersma — after becoming a full-time runner and, as he did ahead of this Sunday's race too, toughening himself in a pre-race camp in the Kenyan mountains in Spartan conditions — won his first Comrades in last year's up run, where Dijana limped over the line with cramps in 14th. Dijana — who clinched his third Comrades win, adding to those won in the successive down runs of in 2022 and 2023 — ran another down tactical masterclass on Sunday, crediting Nedbank Running coaching guru Dave Adams for the plan.
