JOHANNESBURG – Close to 7000 runners painted the streets purple through the leafy northern suburbs of Sandton, Norwood and Melrose at the inaugural Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km road race on Saturday morning.
The race, run in ideal sunny conditions, started outside the Wanderers Rugby Club in Corlett Drive, Illovo, Sandton and finished at the lavish Ethel and Grey Park in Melrose.
The tough, hilly, but scenic route lined with purple Jacaranda trees in full bloom was the perfect setting for thousands of runners of different shapes and sizes who attempted and conquered arguably one of the most challenging 10km road races in South Africa.
Thousands of runners enjoyed the scenic route. Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
It was never a course where fast times could be expected because of the long and demanding steep inclines which the runners encountered for about 70% of the route, but it was a special route that tested everyone to their limits.
The route was lined with purple Jacaranda trees Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
And it was Kenyan Vincent Kipkorir, who showed his class by winning his first ever race on South African soil in a blistering 29 minutes and 51 seconds.
“It was a tough route with a quality field. I felt strong, but I had to fight hard for the victory because in the end it was a massive sprint to the finish line. I am just glad I could hang on,” a proud Kipkorir said afterwards.
The 24-year-old was involved in a sprint finish and just managed to pip South African’s Thabang Mosiako (29:52) and Chris Mhlanga (29:52) completing the top three.
Top Three Photo: Hollywoodbets
Kipkorir walked away with a whopping R37500,with Mosiako earning R30 000 and Mhlanga R27,500 for their efforts.
In the women’s race Kipkorir’s fellow Kenyan Fridah Ndinda (33:57) also produced a stellar performance.
Fridah Ndinda won the women’s race. Photo: Hollywoodbets
Ndinda was followed by Neheng Khatala (34:29) from Lesotho and South Africa’s Karabo More (34:33) in second and third position respectively.
The prize money was exactly the same for the top three females. Photo: Hollywoodbets
According to More she found the hilly course to be a particularly tough challenge and tested her to the limits.
“The race was hard with the hills, but I am glad that I managed to finish. I moved with the first lady but around the fourth kilometre she pulled away. What I learnt is that we should work together as ladies, stay as a pack and move on in the last few kilometres.”
More also said she is learning a lot from working with Caster Semenya.
“I am based in Pretoria and I am assisted by coaches Violet and Caster Semenya and my mentor is Glenrose Xaba. From Xaba I have learnt a lot about consistency because she is that type of athlete who keeps on grinding,” added More.
Elite athletes line up at the start. Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
