Mohale smashes Birchwood Half-Marathon record
Lucky Mohale set a new record in the Men’s Open 21km leg of the 2015 Birchwood Half-Marathon, when he won the race comfortably, in a time of 1:06:48, on Sunday, April 12.
The team Boxer athlete clinched victory with more than a second separating him from chaser Vuyisile Tshaba, who crossed the line in 1:07:55.
Pule Maeko completed the podium positions in a time of 1:08:45.
Over 3 000 entrants took part in the Central Gauteng Athletics-approved half-marathon (21km, 10km and 5km) with the start and finish of all the races at the Birchwood Hotel.
Since its first edition in 2011, the event has steadily grown and sees thousands of athletes, their families and friends descend on the hotel for a fun day out.
“This year’s event was bigger and better than last year, it’s growing and growing each and every year and it’s all because of the people,” confirmed a visibly jubilant Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, CEO of Birchwood
There was another standout athlete in the 21km distance, in the Women’s Open race, in the form of Cornelia Joubert.
The team Nedbank athlete stamped her name in the race’s history books when she won it for the third consecutive year, in a time of 1:16:59.
Kenilwe Sesing of Randmark and Portia Ngwenya of team Transnet finished second and third, respectively, in times of 1:20:51 and 1:20:56.
In the 10km Men’s Open category, first place was taken by Africa Leswene, of team Nedbank (31:32), second place by Tlou Peu (31:36) of team MAD Multisport and third place by Karabo Nkachelo (31:38), of club Cool Running.
Alemtsehay Kakissa (36:22), of Nedbank, emerged victorious in the 10km Women’s Open category, and she was followed by Simone Weitz (37:19) of Boxer and Mpho Mabuza (37:32) of Gallopers.
Birchwood has confirmed that, as from next year, due to the marathon’s growing popularity, all runners will receive a medal simply for taking part in the race, ensuring the event’s further growth. – @SabeloBoksburg
