'We are a club that's known for excellence' - R11000 winner's purse up for grabs at Waterfall City AC Half Marathon

"It pains me when I see a runner winning a race and getting R800 after paying R280 to enter the race." Those were Mpho Makhado's words during yesterday’s launch of the Waterfall City Athletic Club Half Marathon. To a rapturous round of applause, the Race Director of the Blue Wave’s signature road running event, announced that this year’s 5km, 10km and 21km event which takes place on 21 September at the Mall of Africa will pay R11 000 to the male and female winners of the 21km races, which is a 10% increase on the R10 000 that was paid last year.

From Left: Waterfall City AC Half Marathon Race Director Makhado, CGA President Steven Khanyile, Waterfall City AC Chairperson Muneiwa Ndonyane, Waterfall City AC Founder and Director Kenneth Lethole and CGA General Manager Mandla Radebe. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

"We want to empower the runners out there. We don't just wanna host an event for the sake of hosting it. At the end of the day, this is the only source of income for some of the runners," he told #TheTopRunner during the launch which talk place at the Mall of Africa. "So for us to host a beautiful event like this, but at the end of the day the winner or top three or top five must also benefit."

"We are a club that's known for excellence. We always wanted to do things at the highest level and to serve the running community. So when we attended other races as runners we looked and thought that if we could have our own race and do it our way, then we could do it the way we feel that races should be organised and treat participants the way they should be treated," he added.

Makhado and Lethole pose with some of the top runners that have committed to taking part in either the 10km or the 21km race this year including (from left) Gladwin Mzazi, Givemore Mudzinganyama, Bennet Seloyi and Nobuhle Tshuma. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

That philosophy of excellence is one that has been the bedrock on which Waterfall AC's tremendous growth from just fifty members in 2017 to over a thousand today, has been built. Hosting their own race was a natural progression, resulting in one of Central Gauteng Athletics' (CGA) most popular half marathons. 6000 runners and walkers took part in last year’s event, with a target of 7000 set for the 2025 race which is sponsored by Busamed, Attacq and Named Sport.

Group Marketing Manager of Busamed, Taryn Laas also attended the launch. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

Thanking their sponsors for their contribution, Makhado says although most elements of the race including the challenging route which is run in and around the notoriously hilly Waterfall City remain the same, the fifth edition of the much-loved half marathon will for the first time in it’s history feature race walking. 

"Because of the passion we have, we’ve also added a walk race that also pays money to the winners. Thanks to CGA for allowing us to do that because this will be one of the province's official league walk races. We are also planning to boost the prize money in that as well."