Nedbank runners top Heartbreak Hill in style

NEDBANK athletes Melakhaya Frans and Ntomebsintu Mfunzi swept the board in the Heartbreak Hill half-marathon organised by Charlo AC on Saturday, keeping their club at the top of the Eastern Province Men's, Women's and Prestige Leagues.

Frans was an easy winner in 1:08:47 from Andre Ketchem and Melikhaya Sithuba, who tied for second place in 1:10:39.

The race started at St Dominic's Priory School for the first time in its 39-year history.

Mfunzi, who is unbeaten in local races this year, finished ahead of Lisa-Marie Kingston in 1:21:58.

After the Heartbreak Hill half- marathon Nedbank are 25 points ahead of Charlo in the Prestige League and 21 points ahead of Elite in the Women's League.

The Participation League is closer with Charlo 11 points adrift.

The latest league standings are:

Men's Prestige: Nedbank 125, Charlo 100, Madibaz 95.

Women's Prestige: Nedbank 125, Elite 114, Charlo 103.

Participation: Nedbank 648, Charlo 637, Despatch 583.

BERND Liebenguth became the first PE athlete to join the Parkrun 50 Club on Saturday when he finished third in the Hobie Beach Park Run.

The race is run worldwide at 8am every Saturday to encourage fitness. Entry to the timed event is free and registered runners can participate in any Park Run.

Brian Saunders was the first runner to finish – his eighth in 22 starts.

The results were:

Men: Brian Saunders 21:10, Tiaan Gerber 23:37, Bernd Leibenguth 23:38.

Women: Marinda Kieck 22:27, Melissa Mayo 23:03, Habeebah Hathurani 24:50. - Mogan Segadavan