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'After that Comrades victory, my life changed completely' - Sipho Ngomane reflects on that special day in 2005

Thathe Msimango

May 243 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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'They love the organisation' - 40 years and counting. The Johnson Crane Hire Marathon is back again

Mosibodi Whitehead

Jan 262 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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Track star turned road runner Shawn Abrahams shares the secrets of staying fit as you get older

Mosibodi Whitehead

Jan 122 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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'Its sad that athletics legends are mostly forgotten' - Morake steps in to help paralysed Rami Tsebe

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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'I'm surprised because I beat the younger guys' - 59-year-old Desmond Zibi still going strong

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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'I couldn't believe it when I won it' - Willie Mtolo reflects on winning 1992 New York Marathon.

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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'Running is a good vehicle for Unity' - The Blanche Moila story

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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The runner's runner - The Johnny Halberstadt story

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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'Sometimes my father would train four times a day' - Zintle Mokoka as she remembers Bra Zet

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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Teachers play a big role in producing Olympians - Geraldine Pillay-Viret

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....

343 views0 comments

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...

497 views0 comments

Marius Corbett – upsetting the World Order

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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The World descends on Stellenbosch for the World Cross Country Champs

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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Rewriting the history books - The Elana Meyer story

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...

752 views0 comments

Forged at Zoo Lake - The Hendrick Ramaala story

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,...

566 views0 comments

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...

458 views0 comments

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