Mfunzi hits top form again in G'town

NTOMBESINTU Mfunzi proved once again that she was in a league of her own when she easily won the Mountain Drive half-marathon in Grahamstown on Saturday.

The Nedbank Athletic Club runner finished in 1:26:50, almost 12 minutes ahead of teammate Babalwa Ngcoko.

In the men's category, it was another bad weekend for local runners with Melakhaya Frans finishing third. The overall winner was Lungile Gonqa (Temp) who finished in 1:09:01 with visitor Mthandazo Qhina (Oxford Striders) second.

Results:

Senior men: Lungile Gonqa (Temp) 1:09:01, Mthandazo Qhina (Oxford Striders) 1:10:52, Melakhaya Frans (Nedbank) 1:12:11.

Senior women: Ntombesintu Mfunzi (Nedbank) 1:26:50, Babalwa Ngcoko (Nedbank) 1:38:48, Siphokazi Njoko (Motherwell) 1:39:34.

Junior men: Siyabonga Kahla (Motherwell) 1:17:13, Lonwabo Williams (Tinhara) 1:23:17, Masixole Xayiya (Temp) 1:26:44.

Junior women: Megan Wilson (Charlo) 1:54:22, Unathi Sonanzi (Motherwell) 2:11:39, Marile Marais (St Albans) 2:15:14

Meanwhile, visiting Oxford Striders runner Shane Bob Kemp easily won the Hobie Beach parkrun on Saturday.

The free parkrun, which was celebrating its first birthday , attracted a field of 370. Running in his first parkrun, Kemp finished in 19:04.

In the women's category, Candy Boonzaier (Born to Run), also a first-timer, finished ahead of Melissa Mayo in 21:49.

Results:

Men: Shane Bob Kemp 19:04, Jonathan Fisher 19:55.

Women: Candy Boonzaier 21:49, Melissa Mayo 21: 49, Linda Blandford 22:37 -  Mogan Segadavan