A Zimbabwean athlete, Michael Ngaseke, who runs under the banner of the Toyota Road Runners Athletics club, won the annual Land of Legends Marathon which started at the Thohoyandou stadium on Saturday morning.

Michael finished the closely contested marathon in a time of 2:24:00 and earned R4 000 for his efforts. Mpho Kgomani from Nedbank Athletics club finished the 42,2 kilometre route just four minutes behind him in 2:28:07. The third position went to the local man, Sam Munyai of Nedbank Athletics Club, who finished in 2:30:34.

The veteran category was won by Dan Mothibi of New Balance in 2:24:43. Second place in this category went to Edward Sibanda from the South Africa Defence Force. He finished in 2:47:08. Thomas Ngobeni of Soutpansberg Athletics Club was third in 2:47:23.

The master category was won by the well-known Petrus Davhana of the SAPS in a very good time of 2:33:43. Albert Masela of Polokwane Athletics Club finished second in 2:44:21.

The grandmaster category was won by Smokey Bouwer of Polokwane in 3:04:24.

In the ladies category, the first position belonged to Muchaneta Gwata of Mr Price, who finished in 2:59:11. Paulina Phaho finished second, only a few seconds behind the category winner, in 2:59:40. Third position went to the veteran, Jane Mudau of Nedbank Athletics Club, in a time of 3:05:51. Jane also won the ladies veteran section. She was followed by Constance Mavhina of Eskom, who finished in 3:57. Shirley Masindi finished third in this category with a time of 3:57:45. The women’s masters’ category was won by Emillinah Mabelisi in 4:41.

The winner of the half-marathon (21,1 km) was Sipho Ncube of Mr Price Athletics club. He finished in a time of 1:08:35. Bethuel Netshifhefhe of Bonitas finished ten seconds behind him, with a time of 1:08:45. Fhatuwani Mudzanani of Tshakhuma Athletics Club ended third in a time of 1:09.

In the veteran category, first position went to Steven Mudau of Nedbank with a time of 1:17. Thivhafuni Nemavhulani and Andrew Mavhona of SAPS finished in the second and third position.

The masters’ category was won by Bobbie Sacco with Petrus Ngobeni of Soutpansberg Athletics Club second. The winner in the ladies category was the well-known Azwindini Lukhwareni of Nedbank Athletics Club. She was followed by Aluwani Ntondeni of Mvudi Athletics Club. Rabelani Denga of Thohoyandou finished in the third position.

In the veteran category, first prize went to Betty Mundalamo who finished with a time of 1:58. Joyce Mulaudzi of SANDF was second in 2:30 and Emily Mathomu, also from the SANDF, finished third in 2:30. The masters’ category was won by Kedibone Mokubela of Eskom in 2:24.