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Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon Is Growing From Strength To Strength!

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The Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon is back in full force and EP Athletics is gearing up for well over one thousand athletes to line up at Pollok Beach, Summerstrand, on June 3. Race Director, Michael Mbambani, is looking forward to hosting the 9th NMB Half Marathon.

“With the support of our title sponsors, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, we are expecting around 1500 local, national and international elite athletes to gather in Gqeberha – our City of action,” Mbambani said. “Our team is working towards delivering an incredible and competitive event with outstanding results which will be broadcast live on SuperSport. The race, which holds World Athletics Elite Label status, will also serve as the ASA Half Marathon National Championships.”

The event received high praise from Athletic SA’s president, James Moloi. “We must applaud the organisers of the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon which incorporates the ASA Half Marathon Championships for being one of the best organised races of the 21.1km distance not only in the country but in the world.”

After a thrilling finish last year Lesotho’s Namakoe Nkhasi won in his new personal best time of 1:01:01, narrowly beating hometown favourite Melikhaya Frans by seconds. Frans smashed his lifetime best by over a minute as he set a new Eastern Province Athletics record and won his first national title in 1:01:03.

Both Namakoe and Melikhaya will be on the startline, with hot competition from Kenya’s Kipkemoi Kiprono and Ethiopia’s Dinkalem Ayele, who are looking to improve on their fast personal best times. Desmond Zibi, of Ikhamva athletics club, will have the EPA record of 1.12.30 in his sights, which he narrowly missed in 2022.

Last year the woman’s race was dominated by Ethiopia’s Ftaw Zeray who led from gun to tape to claim the victory in 1:06:57, but will not be competing this year. Confirmed competitors are Genet Habela Abdurkadir, of Ethiopia, who is looking forward to improving her personal best time of 1.12.57 when she last competed in the 2018 edition of the Half Marathon, recent winner of the Two Oceans Half Marathon, her first attempt at this distance, Emma Pallant, who is looking to push for a faster time in Gqeberha, and Ethiopia’s Chaltu Bedo, who boasts a personal best half marathon time of 1.11.50.

So the race is set for another spectacular finish with top local, national and international athletes competing on South African soil.

Impressed by the fast times and quality of the race MMC Bassie Kamana, responsible for Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture, gave the race the thumbs up.

“Nelson Mandela Bay is proud to sponsor this prestigious event, since 2014, for the 9th consecutive year, especially since this is the third year that it has been ranked by World Athletics as an Elite Label Road Race which puts our race on par with many of the World’s best races. Boosting sports tourism is high on the city’s agenda and partnering with high profile events like the NMB Half Marathon & ASA Championships, promotes international participation and exposure, which is well suited to our tourism goals.

We at NMBM pride ourselves on becoming the destination of choice for hosting both national and international events, and this marathon is the realization of that objective.

The Eastern Cape has unearthed many exceptional running talents in the past and a few Nelson Mandela Bay based athletes will be looking to make a name for themselves on the 3 rd June, running in their home town amongst the world’s best athletes. We will undoubtedly witness world-class talent at this outstanding race and we hope our local athletes will keep the Eastern Cape Athletics flag flying high!”

At stake is not only the South African title, but also valuable World Athletics Ranking points and a whopping R80 000 for first prize and a total prize pot of R553 000, with the additional bonus of R152 100 for ASA Championship prize money. No wonder South Africa’s best are lining up to race in Gqeberha.

The race is justifiably credited as the fastest half marathon in the country and with generous prize money one can expect fast times. The route is fast and flat and runs on the coastal road. Runners will start from 07.00 and complete a circular route. Starting from Marine Drive, at Pollock Beach, they will head north to Driftsands junction, then south on Marine drive through NMU, down Admiralty road with the second lap turning at Driftsands junction to return to finish at Pollock Beach. A full rolling closure from 05h00 will ensure a safe run and minimum inconvenience to the public.

Athletes can enter online on www.webtickets.co.za or at major sports stores. The first 400 athletes, excluding provincial teams, to collect their race numbers will receive a special Nike T-shirt, and all finishers will receive a medal. Closing date for online and manual entries will be on Monday, 28 May 2023.

Collection of race numbers as well as late entries, will be available at registration at Oyster Catcher venue, Southern Sun The Marine Hotel, Summerstrand, from Thursday, 1 June, from 12h00 to 18h00 and from 12h00 to 20h00 on Friday, 2 June. No collection of race numbers will be allowed on the morning of the event.

Enquiries: Mike Mbambani 079 149 6796 or email epa@pe.co.za.

Melikhaya Frans leads the pack at the start of the 2022 NMB Half Marathon, Gqeberha, NelsoN Mandela Bay. Photo: Suplied

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.