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THE TOP RUNNER
A behind the scenes look at South African athletics
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Thathe Msimango
May 24, 20243 min read
'After that Comrades victory, my life changed completely' - Sipho Ngomane reflects on that special day in 2005
In the build up to 2005 Comrades Marathon, there were too many names being thrown around as contenders for the men's title. The strongest...
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Mosibodi Whitehead
Jan 26, 20242 min read
'They love the organisation' - 40 years and counting. The Johnson Crane Hire Marathon is back again
A closer look at the Athletics South Africa annual calendar reveals an interesting statistic. Many if not most of the road running events...
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Mosibodi Whitehead
Jan 12, 20242 min read
Track star turned road runner Shawn Abrahams shares the secrets of staying fit as you get older
For most middle distance track athletes, once the days of racing two laps of the track or the metric mile in packed stadia are over, then...
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Mosibodi Whitehead
Aug 12, 20232 min read
'Its sad that athletics legends are mostly forgotten' - Morake steps in to help paralysed Rami Tsebe
In his seminal work on The Golden Age of South African distance running entitled Three men named Matthews, Richard Mayer expertly writes:...
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Mosibodi Whitehead
Mar 17, 20233 min read
'I'm surprised because I beat the younger guys' - 59-year-old Desmond Zibi still going strong
While many may remember him for his exploits at the Two Oceans Marathon, Desmond Zibi is enjoying a second wind as an exceptional age...
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Mosibodi Whitehead
Nov 5, 20214 min read
'I couldn't believe it when I won it' - Willie Mtolo reflects on winning 1992 New York Marathon.
It's been almost thirty years since William Bhekizizwe Mtolo became the first South African to win the New York Marathon. On November 1...
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Mosibodi Whitehead
Oct 15, 20217 min read
'Running is a good vehicle for Unity' - The Blanche Moila story
While most of the focus will be at the sharp end of the field, expect a roaring round of virtual applause when three icons of South...
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Mosibodi Whitehead
Oct 8, 20217 min read
The runner's runner - The Johnny Halberstadt story
To beat Johnny Halberstadt on the 18th of April 1981, you had to be willing to die trying. No one was, so no one did. Halberstadt stopped...
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Mosibodi Whitehead
Aug 20, 20212 min read
'Sometimes my father would train four times a day' - Zintle Mokoka as she remembers Bra Zet
While athletics lovers will remember him for his Herculean feats on the road, those close to him continue to hold the late Zithulele...
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Mosibodi Whitehead
Jul 9, 20214 min read
Teachers play a big role in producing Olympians - Geraldine Pillay-Viret
With just 5 women making the final Olympic athletics team, the debate about the lack of top female performers has once again erupted in...
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Manfred Seidler
Apr 30, 20215 min read
LJ van Zyl – Master of the Hurdles
The first time I started to feel “old” was in December of 2002. I was in JBay on holiday when I heard a familiar voice shouting something...
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Manfred Seidler
Apr 23, 20216 min read
The Giant of the Ring
One Balmy Evening in Stellenbosch You know the opening sounds to “Thunder Struck” by ACDC? No, well here is a link to it. Have a listen....
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Manfred Seidler
Apr 16, 20217 min read
Bullet Mbuli
Bullet. Mbuli. Silver Bullet. Hard man. Fighter. “You won’t get passed him in the home straight if he is in front.” Those are the words...
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Manfred Seidler
Apr 9, 20215 min read
Marius Corbett – upsetting the World Order
“I’m still my mother’s son." These were Marius Corbett's profound words when I interviewed him in early 1998 in response to my question:...
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Manfred Seidler
Mar 26, 20217 min read
The World descends on Stellenbosch for the World Cross Country Champs
23 March 1996 is a day forever etched in my mind. The world descended on Stellenbosch as the little Matie town played host to the 24th...
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Manfred Seidler
Mar 19, 20215 min read
Hero of the Hurdles
Llewellyn Herbert showed his true colours when an April fool’s joke ended in an SA Record. So fierce a competitor was the Bethal-born...
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Manfred Seidler
Mar 12, 20216 min read
Rewriting the history books - The Elana Meyer story
1991 was a year of much excitement in South African sport, in particular in athletics. Firstly and very importantly, the Unity Talks...
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Manfred Seidler
Mar 5, 20215 min read
The Herculean efforts of Shadrack Hoff
To watch Shadrack Hoff running is to watch poetry in motion. He glides gracefully along while churning out kilometres at a blistering...
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Manfred Seidler
Feb 26, 20215 min read
Forged at Zoo Lake - The Hendrick Ramaala story
Every morning, without fail you will see a group of runners circling Zoo Lake in Johannesburg. Lap after lap of the roughly 3km circuit,...
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Manfred Seidler
Feb 19, 20216 min read
Silver Bullet Sepeng
Hezekiel Zeekie Sepeng’s accolades are many; South Africa record holder in the 800m since 1999; first black athlete to win an Olympic...
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