More than 200 SAPS athletes from all nine provinces participated in the national SAPS half-marathon championships that started at the Thathe Vondo Forest on Saturday.

Insp Elizna Kotze of the Polokwane SAPS was the overall winner in the women´s category. She finished the race in 1:18:42. It is the third time that she has finished the race in first position. Jane Khumalo of Gauteng finished in second position in 1:44:08. Const Bheki Tshabalala of Gauteng won the men’s division in 1:12:39 with John November of the Free State second in 1:17:46. Stephen Seema of Gauteng was the first masters athlete home, while Insp S Vorster of the Western Province won the division for veterans.

According to the provincial sports manager, Capt Calvin Sikhau, the officers are participating in races to keep fit and healthy. Sikhau said in an interview with Mirror that it was important that police officers should participate in different sporting codes. Sikhau urged other sponsors to start supporting sports in the SAPS.

The representative from the provincial commissioner´s office, Dir N J Mandiwana, said police officers should always take part in all the sporting activities that will keep them fit so that they can do their daily work easily. Western Cape won the competition, North West came second and Limpopo third. Limpopo was acknowledged as the best upcoming province.

The sponsors of the day were Coca-Cola Fortune Makhado, Sipho Transport, Zoutpansberg Milling, Mabirimisa, Magwaba, Phadziri and Enos Bus Services, Old Mutual, Metropolitan-Polokwane, Rainbow Midas Makhado, Thohoyandou Spar, CTM, Wyliespoort Cash & Carry, PC Training & Computer Centre Durban, Makhado Giants Canning, Mollevel Butchery Waterpoort, Quikfire Durban and the SAPS stations in Vhembe.