Trail Running | Change a Life dominate at Sappi Karkloof Classic trail run
KARKLOOF – Saturday's trail runs at the Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival proved to be successful outing for the Change a Life team, with Ayanda Ngcobo just getting the better of Bongani Hlongwane, while Sphesihle Zimu made sure the squad claimed all three podium spots.
The leading pair of Change a Life teammates fought a race-long struggle for superiority in the main 21km event before Ngcobo managed to eke out a gap over Hlongwane and hold it to the finish.
With the friendly rivalry spurring on the two teamates, Ngcobo finished the tough 21km route in a quick time of 1:25:54, with Hlongwane crossing the line at Absa Karkloof Country Club 20-seconds later. Zimu came home in a time of 1:31:16 with Mzwakhe Khanyile and Nkululeko Khumalo rounding out the top five.
In the women's race, Jessica Hattam claimed a two-minute victory over Ruth Cozien with Lauren Keenan completing the podium, more than eight minutes further back.
The 9km trail run was won by Zwile Khumalo with Thobani Mkhize out-sprinting Ayanda Malevu for second, while Nolwazi Dlamini was a comfortable winner in the women's race, with last year's 9km winner, Lisa Mcallister, just edging out her daughter Joanne in the race for second.
On Sunday the focus switches from legs to wheels as the mountain bike events take centre stage and the South African MTB Marathon Champions are crowned.
The race that will attract the most interest is the 85km event which will see a strong field fighting for the elite national titles and both the men's and women's events are likely to produce some fascinating racing.
Young KZN local and rising star Michael Foster will be aiming to defend his Sappi Karkloof Classic title as he also aims for his second South African Champion's Jersey of the month, following on from his cross country victory in Paarl in early May.
If Foster can make it two from two national titles, it will cement his position as one of the country's most exciting prospects. Since joining the PYGA Euro Steel team, the Ixopo youngster has been improving at an impressive rate. He is enjoying a stellar season that has already seen him win the KAP Sani2c in late April with teammate Jaedon Terlouw, and then claim the XCO victory a couple of weeks later.
However, Sunday's gruelling 85km event will test the youngster to the extreme and he faces some stiff competition. The biggest challenges are most likely to come from Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje. Another rider aiming for a second national title for the month will be Marc Pritzen, who won the SA Gravel Championships two weeks ago.
Tyler Jacobs is the rising star of the women's field and KZN's hopes of a home-victory will probably be pinned on the 20-year-old from Salt Rock. However, like the men's race, there is a phalanx of older rivals aiming to prove that experience trumps youth.
Last year's Sappi Karkloof Classic winner Sarah Hill would love a repeat victory, while Sam Sanders, who finished second in 2022 when the event was also the SA Championships, will be aiming to go one better. Frances Janse van Rensburg and Hayley Smith are two other KZN locals who could be part of a leading group and cannot be discounted.
Danielle Strydom, who, like Pritzen in the men's race, won the SA Gravel Championships recently, could also be a surprise winner and her rivals cannot afford to let her get away on the gravel transitions between the sections of singletrack.
MTB riders will be competing over five distances with SA titles on the line for various age groups in the 40km, 60km and 85km races.
Saturday's Selected Results
21km Trail Run
Men
1 Ayanda Ngcobo 1:25:54
2 Bongani Hlongwane 1:26:14
3 Sphesihle Zimu 1:31:16
4 Mzwakhe Khanyile 1:34:35
5 Nkululeko Vuyo Khumalo 1:36:09
6 Mdu Zondi 1:37:57
7 Hlelani Radebe 1:38:25
8 Ralph Enslin 1:38:43
9 Willie Brink 1:42:48
10 Luke Dinkel 1:44:21
Women
1 Jessica Hattam 1:50:07
2 Ruth Cozien 1:52:00
3 Lauren Keenan 2:00:53
4 Taylor Mcnamara 2:01:55
5 Patricia Dammann 2:13:53
6 Nicole Jutzen 2:19:50
7 Nicole Graver 2:21:47
8 Reegan Alward 2:22:13
9 Alison Wasserfall 2:23:00
10 Janet Hallowes 2:26:09
9km Trail Run
Men
1 Zwile Khumalo 35:01
2 Thobani Mkhize 35:28
3 Ayanda Malevu 35:29
4 Phaka Zondi 37:06
5 Nduduzo Mkhize 37:12
Women
1 Nolwazi Dlamini 44:35
2 Lisa Mcallister 47:47
3 Joanne Mcallister 48:18
4 Anje Van Der Merwe 48:23
5 Sarah Mingay 49:15
KARKLOOF – Saturday's trail runs at the Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival proved to be successful outing for the Change a Life team, with Ayanda Ngcobo just getting the better of Bongani Hlongwane, while Sphesihle Zimu made sure the squad claimed all three podium spots.
The leading pair of Change a Life teammates fought a race-long struggle for superiority in the main 21km event before Ngcobo managed to eke out a gap over Hlongwane and hold it to the finish.
With the friendly rivalry spurring on the two teamates, Ngcobo finished the tough 21km route in a quick time of 1:25:54, with Hlongwane crossing the line at Absa Karkloof Country Club 20-seconds later. Zimu came home in a time of 1:31:16 with Mzwakhe Khanyile and Nkululeko Khumalo rounding out the top five.
In the women's race, Jessica Hattam claimed a two-minute victory over Ruth Cozien with Lauren Keenan completing the podium, more than eight minutes further back.
The 9km trail run was won by Zwile Khumalo with Thobani Mkhize out-sprinting Ayanda Malevu for second, while Nolwazi Dlamini was a comfortable winner in the women's race, with last year's 9km winner, Lisa Mcallister, just edging out her daughter Joanne in the race for second.
On Sunday the focus switches from legs to wheels as the mountain bike events take centre stage and the South African MTB Marathon Champions are crowned.
The race that will attract the most interest is the 85km event which will see a strong field fighting for the elite national titles and both the men's and women's events are likely to produce some fascinating racing.
Young KZN local and rising star Michael Foster will be aiming to defend his Sappi Karkloof Classic title as he also aims for his second South African Champion's Jersey of the month, following on from his cross country victory in Paarl in early May.
If Foster can make it two from two national titles, it will cement his position as one of the country's most exciting prospects. Since joining the PYGA Euro Steel team, the Ixopo youngster has been improving at an impressive rate. He is enjoying a stellar season that has already seen him win the KAP Sani2c in late April with teammate Jaedon Terlouw, and then claim the XCO victory a couple of weeks later.
However, Sunday's gruelling 85km event will test the youngster to the extreme and he faces some stiff competition. The biggest challenges are most likely to come from Marco Joubert and Tristan Nortje. Another rider aiming for a second national title for the month will be Marc Pritzen, who won the SA Gravel Championships two weeks ago.
Tyler Jacobs is the rising star of the women's field and KZN's hopes of a home-victory will probably be pinned on the 20-year-old from Salt Rock. However, like the men's race, there is a phalanx of older rivals aiming to prove that experience trumps youth.
Last year's Sappi Karkloof Classic winner Sarah Hill would love a repeat victory, while Sam Sanders, who finished second in 2022 when the event was also the SA Championships, will be aiming to go one better. Frances Janse van Rensburg and Hayley Smith are two other KZN locals who could be part of a leading group and cannot be discounted.
Danielle Strydom, who, like Pritzen in the men's race, won the SA Gravel Championships recently, could also be a surprise winner and her rivals cannot afford to let her get away on the gravel transitions between the sections of singletrack.
MTB riders will be competing over five distances with SA titles on the line for various age groups in the 40km, 60km and 85km races.
Saturday's Selected Results
21km Trail Run
Men
1 Ayanda Ngcobo 1:25:54
2 Bongani Hlongwane 1:26:14
3 Sphesihle Zimu 1:31:16
4 Mzwakhe Khanyile 1:34:35
5 Nkululeko Vuyo Khumalo 1:36:09
6 Mdu Zondi 1:37:57
7 Hlelani Radebe 1:38:25
8 Ralph Enslin 1:38:43
9 Willie Brink 1:42:48
10 Luke Dinkel 1:44:21
Women
1 Jessica Hattam 1:50:07
2 Ruth Cozien 1:52:00
3 Lauren Keenan 2:00:53
4 Taylor Mcnamara 2:01:55
5 Patricia Dammann 2:13:53
6 Nicole Jutzen 2:19:50
7 Nicole Graver 2:21:47
8 Reegan Alward 2:22:13
9 Alison Wasserfall 2:23:00
10 Janet Hallowes 2:26:09
9km Trail Run
Men
1 Zwile Khumalo 35:01
2 Thobani Mkhize 35:28
3 Ayanda Malevu 35:29
4 Phaka Zondi 37:06
5 Nduduzo Mkhize 37:12
Women
1 Nolwazi Dlamini 44:35
2 Lisa Mcallister 47:47
3 Joanne Mcallister 48:18
4 Anje Van Der Merwe 48:23
5 Sarah Mingay 49:15
