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Runners blown off course
22/03/2008 14:23 - (SA)
Cape Town - As it did at last week's national track and field championships, the notorious Cape Doctor had the final say in the outcome of the 56km Old Mutual Two Oceans ultra marathon in Cape Town Saturday.
At times on the southern part of the course the wind gusted at over 40km/h which made conditions tough in what was an already tough course. As it turned out, the relief expected in the turn away from the sea, turned into a battle as the wind continued to gust, even up the tough Constantia Neck climb.
All the usual suspect waited in the bunch for the first sign of any weakness and Phillip Molefe made the mistake of going to early in the blustery conditions. In the end 2005 winner Marco Mambo got the jump on the bunch after dropping Molefe in the long run down Chapman's Peak.
Mambo faded and then recovered to show them all a clean pair of heels, finally claiming his third race victory in 3:11:35.
The challenges for the runner up position came and went with unknown Mzwanele Maphekula (MP) snatching second in 3:12:30. Simon Peu was not considered good enough by his Mr Price to warrant a sponsored trip to the race. He took great pleasure in proving them wrong by slicing through the field to take third in 3:13:33.
Defending champion, Bethuel Netshifhefhe looked keen to take up the challenge but he too jumped to quick and by the time the standard marathon mark came around he was slipping backwards through the field.
Former winner Mluleki Nobanda claimed forth with defending champion, Bethuel Netshifhefhe taking fifth in 3:14:15.
Russian victory
At the pre race press conference 1996 Olympic gold medallist, Josia Thugwane proclaimed he only had his sights set on Thompson Magawana's 1988 record.
His record breaking attempt never really got off the ground and the diminutive Nedbank athlete faded out of the placings, ending with another DNF.
The women's laurels once again went north to Russia, this time it was the other twin, Olesya Nurgalieva, who claimed her maiden victory ahead of her sister, Yelena, clocking 3:34:53.
Fellow Russian and 2006 winner, Tatyana Zhirkova, captured third in 3:39:24, with defending champion Madina Biktigirova next (3:3:46:52).
Then came a string of South Africans headed by Riana van Niekerk who hacked around 10 minutes off her personal best, followed by Durban's Carol Mercer (4:05:23), Cape Town's, Farwa Mentoor (4:07:33) and Ursula Frans (4:08:36).
Veteran, Grace de Oliveira proved that age is not a stumbling block by clocking 4:10:19, with Leanne Juul taking the last gold medal in 4:13:37.
The half marathon was won by Zimbabwean, George Majaji (63:31) with the women's line honours going to Lesotho's Mamarolla Tjoka (75:05).
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Rugby
