Runners shape up for the Comrades Marathon as course records fall at Rocky Nice & Easy Half Marathon in Polokwane

Two course records were delivered during the second edition of the annual Rocky Nice & Easy Half Marathon on Saturday, 16 May at the Polokwane Rugby Fields. Polokwane Athletic Club's Ananias Masila won the men’s race in a personal best time of 1:09:25 to eclipse the 1:13:49 Jeffery Morukhu last. Year, while Nyandono Manenzhe clocked 1:33:19 to take more than seven minutes off the women's course record. Speaking to #TheTopRunner after the race, Masila who hails from Ga-Mamabolo just outside the City of Polokwane, explained that the 21km event was his final hard tempo run before the Comrades Marathon on 14 June. 

Over 1000 runners and walkers took part in the 21km and 10km events at the Rocky Nice & Easy Half Marathon in Polokwane on Saturday 16 May. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"I feel very happy that I made a return and persevered in my training. I am happy with my result. It shows that I am going somewhere as I am preparing for the Comrades Marathon. It was hard, it wasn’t easy. I just pushed to the limit. I started fast, but the guys hung back and didn't go with me. So then all I had to fo was just to maintain my pace until the end."

Manamela Samuel of Masai AC AGN finished 2nd in 1:09:56, while Petros Mogolana of Legend Road Runners finished 3rd in 1:10:13. Masila who clocked 6:23:20 during last year’s Comrades Marathon Down Run, said he was satisfied with his finishing time even though he was never really tested by his competitors.

Masila secured a comfortable victory and broke the course record. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"I am happy with my time. The competition was not that tough because some of the top runners weren’t here. It was good preparation for me."

Running in the colours of Mzansi Athletics, Manenzhe took line honours in the women’s race in a new personal best clocking to win by more than five minutes from the runner-up. Manenzhe described the new course record as a bonus because she took part in the Rocky Nice & Easy Half Marathon without a specific time goal.

Manenzhe won the women's race in a new personal best signalling her excellent form ahead of taking part in the Comrades Marathon on 14 June. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"I am happy about it, it was a nice race. I think the competition was not as bad as I thought. When I saw that it was not as that difficult, I decided to push myself because I’ve been tired after training hard for the Comrades Marathon. I did not have a target, I just wanted to win. So, I am happy with the time," she added.

Followed home by Mancha Mothomogolo (1:38:59) and Tshifhiwa Mudau who rounded out the podium in 1:43:21, Manedzhe said her triumph at the Rocky Nice & Easy Half Marathon in a personal best is a huge boost going into the Comrades Marathon.

"The race helped because when you improve your time that determines the type of a medal you can target at Comrades. So, the harder you go the better. So, yes, it did help."