"It's like I'm dreaming" - Breakthrough run for Matwebu who claims maiden SA title after a close second at NMB Half Marathon

Ngconde Matwebu announced himself to the South African road running public this morning (27 June) when he finished as the runner-up at the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon to take the his very first SA title  at the twelfth edition of South Africa’s premium half marathon event. Running in the colours of KwaZulu-Natal-Natal Athletics, the 26-year-old who is coached by Mdu Khumalo, produced a mature performance which saw him chase down early leader Rodgers Murei of Kenya.

Matwebu moments after winning his first SA title. Photo Credit: Athletics South Africa.

Separated from the lead bunch, the pair went through the 13km mark in 38:30, and stayed together until a late surge inside the final mile saw the East African breakaway to win in 1:01:51. Matwebu finished just six seconds adrift for a lifetime best 1:01:57 and what he describes as the run of his life.

The 12th edition of the NMB Half Marathon was won by Kenya's Rodgers Murei who crossed the finish line six seconds ahead of Matwebu. Photo Credit: Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

"I think this was the best race of my career," he told Athletics South Africa’s media representatives after the race. "It was my best race ever because I’ve been struggling with injuries for almost three years. I’d like to thank God for today’s win. I’d also like to thank by family and my teammates for their support. It’s a wonderful feeling. It’s like I’m dreaming. This is just the beginning."

Yet the signs of a breakthrough run had already begun to surface earlier this season, when the Phantane Athletic Club top runner produced a personal best 29:41 to claim an encouraging nineteenth position on a windy day at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 1 March. Today’s podium finish on the same stretch of Summerstrand road makes Matwebu the third fastest SA 21km athlete of the year behind Adriaan Wildschutt (59:30) and Thabang Mosiako (1:00:44), which essentially guarantees him the right to don the green and gold at the World Athletics Road Running Championships which take place in the Danish city of Copenhagen between 19 and 20 September.

"The qualifying time was 63 and today I ran 61 minutes. I'm not surprised because my training had been going well. I'm definitely going to Denmark. No choice!"

KZNA's Men's 21km team pose with ASA Acting President John Mathane and Nelson Mandel Bay Municipality MMC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation Sinebhongo Kwatsha after sweeping the podium in the ASA Half Marathon Championship race. Photo Credit: Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

Matwebu was followed home by KZNA teammate Cwenga Nose in 1:02:17. Nose took third overall and second in the ASA Half Marathon Championships race as KZNA secured the overall team prize with three of their four scoring athletes finishing inside the top ten - Pontsho Motaung was fifth in 1:03:32. 

Two-time podium finisher Daniel Paulus of Nambia was seventh (1:02:53), former winner and multiple SA Champion Stephen Mokoka took eighth place (1:03:11) running in the colours of the Hollywood Athletic Club, while 2022 SA champion and hometown favourite Melikhaya Frans rounded out the top ten in 1:03:19 and was the first EPA athlete to cross the finish line in Pollock Beach, Gqeberha.

Cacisile Sosibo and Lavina Haitope of the Nedbank Running Club delivered a tight women's race. The Namibian won by just one second. Photo Credit: Athletics South Africa.

In the ladies race, Namibia’s Lavina Haitope defended her title in 1:12:36 but needed a sprint finish to defeat Central Gauteng Athletics’ Cacisile Sosibo by just one second. Sosibo takes the national crown with Karabo Mailula (fourth overall) taking the silver medal. CGA’s Samantha Coetzer who claimed fifth place in 1:17:01, grabbed the bronze medal. The team prize went to Athletics Gauteng North thanks to there performances of Mailula, Violet Mogano (1:19:44) and Bonolo Makhubela (1:21:23).

NMB Half Marathon Race Director Mike Mbambani was pleased with another successful staging of a sold out incident free race. Photo Credit: Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

"Magic!" That was Race Director Mike Mbambani’s response when asked to share his thoughts about the race. "Everything went well. The weather was super perfect and we saw a good times from the men. It was an incident free race and also a sold out race with a maximum field of 3000 participants. So we are very happy. We can only thank our sponsors especially the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. We couldn’t have done this without them."