SA, CORRECTIONAL RUNNERS WIN MANKAYANE 21KM

MANKAYANE – While Correctional Services dominated the women’s division, South African runner Bonginkosi Mavuso was the winner of the Mankayane 21km run yesterday.

Mavuso plies his trade with Black Diamond Athletics Club. He clocked 1:13:15 hours at the finish line in Mankayane Sports Ground to win the inaugural race. He is the second South African to win a local race as even about a fortnight ago, Sifiso Ngcobo from Mbombela Athletics Club won the Mbabane Municipal Council Half Marathon.

The Black Diamond athlete last participated in a local marathon during the last episode of the Imbube Marathon. “The race was perfect and challenging as it had more hills but I’m grateful that I conquered. As someone used to such I didn’t encounter any problems,” Mavuso said. He was followed by Royal Eswatini Police Services’ (REPS) Mancoba Nhlabatsi, who finished about four minutes later than him.

This was, however, a good performance as he marinated his fourth spot finish from the Mbabane Municipal race. “As we are still fresh from the COVID-19 pandemic, I can say with your local athletes, they were not ready and also not convincingly fit. I’m used to Eswatini and I know there are fast athletes. Let them be patient, they will get better very soon,” Mavuso reacted soon after being enquired about the level of local athletes.

Dominance

The race also saw another dominance of SA athletes in the males’ category in the 10km race. Mcolisi Madlopha who is not affiliated to any club won it and he was followed by Assegaa Club sprinter, Sanele Nkosi. Meanwhile, Team Correctional swept the boards in the females 21km, 10km and 5km race as their athletes excelled. Thobile Ngwenyama won the 21km race where she crossed the finish line after 1:50:48. The 10km race also went to team Correctional as Thandeka Gadlela won it after racing for 58:50.

Meanwhile, the 5km was won by Colile Hlophe while Bongikhosi Vilakati also from Correctional stole it in  the males category. This fun race, aimed not only for building mental fitness but also physical fitness in church, was a result of a partnership forged between Mankayane High Praise Tabernacles (HCT) and Athletics Eswatini (AE).

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