Friday, 29 July 2011

Nkwenke Mountain conquered

The mountain was challenged and the athletes were the victors for the day. This was the Meditrax Mfuli Mountain Challenge which took place on Saturday. The weather was perfect for this 16km run and walk, which started at Mfuli Game Ranch. The route through the rural areas of the beautiful Nkwalini Valley and traversing Nkwenkwe Mountain, followed dirt roads, jeep track, single track and no track, making it one of the more exciting runs in the area. This year the race attracted ‘roadies’ as well as trail runners from as far as the south coast, north coast and inland. With the sponsor Meditrax on hand to patch any scrapes and breaks, the race went off smoothly, and the organisers, uMhlathuze Athletics Club, received many compliments from the competitors, who assured them they’d be back next year as it’s a race well worth running. The Club wishes to thank their sponsor Meditrax as well as those who gave of their time to man the water tables, in mostly inaccessible areas.

Victors
The winners for the day were most definitely all those who took part in this challenge, but taking the tape in the men’s run was Lyno Muchena of Mr Price in 01.13.06. Second place went to Mtuba’s Njabulo Mncwango in 01.15.51 and a close third was Prodigal Khumalo of Mr Price in 01.16.09. In the ladies’ race Loveness Madziva of Phumanathi crossed the line in 01.30.56, Slindile Chili of Chesterville second in 01.34.14 and uMhlathuze’s own Nomcebo Mthetwa third in 01.45.40. In the men’s walking race, Lindokhule Ntombela of uMhlathuze Athletics Club finished first in 01.57.40, with Canon Richards Bay’s Corné Coetzer (02.36.03), Tanya van der Walt (02.37.03) and Zetta Muller (02.40.22) taking the honours in the ladies race.