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Confident champs for Two Oceans
19/03/2008 22:18 - (SA)
Adnaan Mohamed , Die Burger
Cape Town - Defending champion Bethuel Netshifhefhe is confident of again winning the Two Oceans ultra-marathon over 56km on Saturday.
"My preparations have gone well," Netshifhefhe said here on Wednesday. "I had a slight groin injury but that's over now. All my attention is focussed on the Two Oceans. I feel ready."
Netshifhefhe can expect tough opposition from former Olympic Games marathon champion Josiah Thugwane, who finished second last year and will have his eye on the R150 000 first prize.
Marc Smith, Netshifhefhe's manager, expects runners such as Brian Zondi, Hlonepha Mphulanyane and Joseph Ikaneng to use the Cape race as part of their preparations for the Comrades marathon.
"But even if they have their eye on the Comrades, they will see what their time is at the 42.2km mark on Saturday and then decide whether a top-10 position is within their reach.
"About 22 athletes have a chance of winning," Smith said.
"Experienced runners such as Marco Mambo, Sipho Ngomane, Hatiwande Nyamande, Claude Moshiywa, Moses Njodzi, Mabule Rhapotle, Sipho Ngomane and John Mboko have done well in the Two Oceans and anything can happen on the day."
Madina Biktagirova, who won the women's race last year, will be chasing a double.
Record is a strong possibility
Since last year's Comrades, she has competed only in the Singapore Marathon on December 2, finishing a disappointing fifth in 2 hours 42 minutes.
"Yes, I may feel the pressure this year but all my attention is on the Two Oceans," she said this week.
"My legs felt a little heavy and slow on Monday because it had been a long flight from Moscow. But I'm going out to win and a record is a strong possibility," Biktagirova said.
She is well aware of the threat posed by her Russian compatriots, Tatyana Zhirkova and the Nurgalieva twins, Elena en Olesya,
"Elena and Olesya are in good form, as always. Olesya may be in a little better condition but they always give a hundred per cent and one never knows what to expect of them on the day."
Riana van Niekerk, who will run her first Two Oceans, beat Olesya in the Soweto Marathon last year.
Television: Live coverage on SABC 2, starting at 06:00.
- Die Burger
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