Runners and hawkers hit the streets of Bela-Bela during SuperSpar Marathon
The SuperSpar Marathon staged on Saturday 10 November in Bela-Bela was a resounding success.
The SuperSpar Marathon staged on Saturday 10 November in Bela-Bela was a resounding success.
The marathon was made possible with the generous support of SuperSpar Bela-Bela, the Waterberg District Municipality, Hoërskool Warmbad and the Warmbad Marathon Club.
Athletes arrived from across the country, including as far afield as Botswana, to take part in the road race which started at Hoërskool Warmbad, over distances ranging from 42,2 km, 21,2 km, 10 km to 5 km.
Against the backdrop of soaring temperatures, the organisers and volunteers made sure runners had enough water and other supplies.
“The marathon is growing yearly and this year we attracted well over 1 100 participants,” said Warmbad Marathon Club chairperson, Neels Venter.
The emergency services, backed up by three ambulances, and also traffic personnel, totalling a collective 30 individuals, were on duty.
“The heat played a big role in testing the endurance of the participants especially for those taking part in the 42,2 km event,” Venter said.
Prizemoney of R10 000 was awarded to the winners in the 42,2 km event, and R1 000 for the 21,2 km race.
Prizemoney of R3 000 was set aside for a special 10km event for women.
Free T-shirts were offered to the first 350 runners to cross the finishing line in the 42,2 km event, while the first 150 athletes for the 21, 2 km event also got the free T-shirts.
Scores of fitness fanatics took part in the 5 km brisk walk category.
The field track provided runners with a total of 11 water points, equipped with 3 000 water plastic bags and 1 100 litres of cooldrink.
Venter has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors, members of the community and the organisers for staging a most successful day of fun for everybody.
Charles Soza won the 42,2 km event for men, while Danke Erasmus took home first prize in the women’s category.
Reghan Magwai won the 21,2 km event for men, while Andrea Steyn and Cornelia Joubert won the 10km event with a dead-heat result.
— The BEAT
