King Kusche ready for Amsterdam Marathon after smashing Waterfall Half Marathon course record
Updated: 13 minutes ago
Reigning Comrades Marathon champion George Kusche smashed the two-year old course record to win the Waterfall City Half-Marathon powered by Attacq at the Mall of Africa on September 12, while Emma Pallant-Browne won the women’s race in dominant fashion.
Kusche held off Boxer AC top runner, Bennet Seloyi, to cross the finish line in a quick-fire 01:05:12 in front of a sold-out field of 8000 runners and walkers. In the process, the Nedbank Running Club ace smashed the previous mark of 01:06:09 set by Nicholas Seoposengwe during the 2023 edition of the race by almost a minute.
Seloyi will be proud of his effort on the notoriously hilly course after also finishing inside the previous record and setting the race’s second fastest time of 01:05:47. He ended up just 35 seconds behind Kusche to take the runner-up spot, while Maxed Elite’s Elvis Tau, a 01:04:56 half-marathoner at his best, completed the top three in 01:08:03.
With this win, the Comrades Marathon up-run record holder, who holds a 28:56 10km personal best set at the 2024 Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K, pocketed a total of R50 000, which includes the R30 000 prize for the race and an additional R20 000 for breaking the men’s record.
“The plan was to start conservatively and work into it. But I felt good from the start, maybe because I took this week a bit easier in training. It’s good to do that every now and then. However, If feels tough mentally because you feel like you are lazy but the breakthroughs usually come when you rest, recover and improve. So, I’m very happy with today’s performance,” he said.
The race formed part of the Nedbank running Club star's old Pretoria data scientist’s preparation for the Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday, October 18. “It is a training run. It’s a threshold run."
Pallant-Browne, meanwhile, missed Glenrose Xaba’s course record of 01:17:37 by just 39 seconds when she clocked 01:18:16 to clinch the women’s title, beating a modest field that included multiple national champion, Mapaseka Makhanya, who grabbed the runner-up spot in 01:25:45, with Farida Zwane of Waterfall AC third in 01:26:40.
“I’m happy with the race. I’m always happy with a win. It was good to come and dig deep. I think these races make you strong,” said Pallant-Browne.
In the 10km, Rebaone Obotseng outsprinted a strong elite men’s field that included Precious Mashele, Gladwin Mzazi and Desmond Mokgobu, to win in 31:04, leading a top three that finished the race inside 32 minutes and within six seconds of each other.
The much improved Lefa Kwanele of Mamepe Striders was four seconds adrift after clocking 31:08, with Desmond Mokgobu third in 31:10.
Olympian Cian Gerber of Hollywood AC clocked 36:09 to win the women’s race, beating Waterfall AC’s Zanele Maisa, who was second in 37:06. Elizabeth Hutamo completed the podium in 39:40.
Reflecting on the 8000 participants that enjoyed the fifth edition of one of Central Gauteng’s most popular road running events, Race Director Mpho Makhado marvelled at the achievements of a club which was only founded in 2018 by Kenneth Lethole.
“We were blessed with amazing weather today and people came out to support. We’d like to thank them for making this event grow. Remember that we started with just 3200 participants in 2022, so to have 8000 here today is testament to the excellent work done by the entire Waterfall City AC team and the tireless support of all our sponsors and partners.”
Makhado singled out headlines sponsor Attacq, whose Waterfall City Brand Lead Sim Pillay declared the event a success, saying they look forward to a even bigger and better.
“At Attacq, we develop and manage integrated mixed-use precincts across South Africa - Waterfall City is one of our flagship developments. We also encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyles which is why it was a no-brainer for us to partner with and invest in this event run by a club that calls Waterfall City home. After the success of the 2026 race, we look forward to hosting more runners and walkers next year.”
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