LowMed’s 1st ever Nite Race

Mbombela – LowMed’s first nite race trail run on Wednesday evening was a huge success. More than 140 eager trail runners made their way to the Walters’ Stellenrust Farm on the outskirts of Nelspruit for a 5km and 10km fun event.

Although the morning’s weather had the organisers slightly on the worried side, the evening turned out perfect for running. Big names in the running fraternity like Folavio Sehole, Asher Biggs Bonga Shongwe and De Villiers Basson, to name a few, also pitch up for race.

Biggs totally annihilated the 5km course in a time of 19 minutes 39 second, followed by De Villiers Basson in 24:01 minutes. Marise Schutte won the women’s 5km run in a time of 29:57 minutes closely followed by Hannelize Coetzee in 30:33 minutes.

The stars of the evening was definitely the flying finish between Prince Ndlovu, Folavio Sehole and Freedom Makhubela, with Ndlovu literally taking a dive for his first price from Malelane Toyota, a Tom Tom Runner 3GPS fitness watch. He thrashed the 10km trail in just 39 minutes and 26 seconds, three seconds quicker than Sehole and six seconds faster than Makhubela.

In the women’s race, the times were as close, but without a flying finish. Elsa de Beer took the honours and a Tom Tom Runner 3 fitness watch as price in a time of 46 minutes and 46 seconds.  Helene Muller was in second position only nine seconds later.

The LowMed Nite Race organisers would like to thank Louis and Juliana Walters for hosting their event for a second consecutive year. A huge thank  you to all the sponsors and exhibitors making this event a newbie on the annual race calendar. The full results are available from www.smarttiming.co.za.

LowMed will host their last event of the year, the second Open Water Swim at Longmere Dam on 5 November. This will be a sanctioned event.  Registrations start at 08:00. Bring the whole family and come enjoy the fun. Download the entry form from www.lowmed.co.za or enter on the day. The distances are 3000m, 1500m, 400m and the day will be closed with a100m fun kiddies event.

Results:

5km

Men:

1. Asher Biggs               19 minutes 39 seconds
2. De Villiers Basson     24:01
3. Bonga Shongwe       25:03

Women:

1. Marise Schutte          29:57
2. Hannalize Coetzee    30:22
3. Mimi Smit                  30:30

10km

Men:

1. Prince Ndlovu                    37:26
2. Folavio Sehole                   37:29
3. Freedom Makhubela          37:32

Women:

1. Elsa de Beer               46:43
2. Helene Muller              46:52
3. Manda Gomes             51:27

Photos by: Hennie Homann | www.hhphotoxpress.co.za