Last-gasp Sibusiso grabs Milkwood title in exciting finish

Nedbank athlete, Sibusiso Madikizela, came out on top in a last-gasp dash against Boxer athlete, Godwin Swartz, at the annual ABAX Milkwood Half Marathon, run on it’s traditional out and back course between Kommetjie and Scarborough over the weekend, while his teammate, veteran athlete Elme Middlemost, took the honours in the women’s competition.

Over 2000 runners enjoyed perfect conditions to complete their early morning exercise over 3km, 5km, 10km or the half marathon along one of the Peninsula’s most scenic stretches of coastline, earning their indigenous tree seedling, traditionally awarded to finishers instead of the more typical medal.  

Swiss finance manager, Julian Barbour, arrived in Cape Town from Zurich, just two days before the race to attend a wedding in South Africa. Staying in Kommetjie, little more than a kilometre from the start, he opted to join the party on race day and set the pace for much of the first half.

“I was happy that the Swiss guy kept the pace honest from the start,” said Madikizela.  “I used the race to prepare for Peninsula next week and would have been happy to run a few minutes slower. But I felt good after the race was pleased to have had a sharper outing.”

Barbour spearheaded a breakaway group of four, with Fish Hoek’s Kyle Bucklow following on his heels after the testing climb out of Kommetjie and Madikizela and Swartz a stride or two back through 6km.

Madikizela and Swartz made their move shortly after the turn at Scarborough, gradually opening a gap on their pursuers and were still stride for stride approaching the finish. Madikizela turned on the after-burners 100m out and won the sprint to the tape, crossing the line in 1 hr 12 min 08 sec.

Barbour held on for third, narrowly holding off Bucklow for the final podium position.

Middlemost held the lead from start to finish, winning by three minutes in an impressive 1:28:23 ahead of Free State athlete, Michelle Dykman, with Wildrunner’s Ela Meiring just 20 seconds back in third.

Local club Satori dominated in the 10km, with Siphiwe Tefo winning in 32:20, well ahead of his teammate INga Ngwenduna in second place. Trail runner, Brandon Keeling took third. Emma Slack proved too strong for Nedbank veteran, Tanya Posthumus-fox, winning the women’s race in 42:28.

Results

ABAX Milkwood 21km

Men: 1 Sibusiso Madikizela (Nedbank) 1:12:08; 2 Godwin Swartz (Boxer) 1:12:13; 3 Julian Barbour (tmp licence – Switzerland) 1:13:37; 4 Kyle Bucklow (F Hoek) 1:13:41; 5 Oli Morris (tmp lic) 1:17:41; 6 Ignatious Moyo (Wildrunner) 1:18:31; 7 Bulelani Mkhosana (Khay) 1:18:41; 8 Iain Peterkin (Durbanville) 1:18:51; 9 Simon Raad (ATC) 1:18:59; 10 John Faure (tmp lic) 1:19:03

Women: 1 Elme Middelmost (Nedbank WP) 1:28:20; 2 Michelle Dykman (Nedbank FS) 1:31:35; 3 Ela Meiring (Wildrunner) 1:31:57; 4 Sharon Calitz (Namaqua) 1:36:29; 5 Jessie Walman (UCT) 1:36:54; 6 Angela Dell (VOB) 1:37:16; 7 Amy Harding (tmp) 1:37:32; 8 Joanna Thomas (VOB) 1:38:23; 9 Anna Hauff (AAC) 1:38:24; 10 Noeline Barclay (Club Mykonos) 1:38:47

Results

ABAX Milkwood 10km

Men: 1 Siphiwe Tefo (Satori) 32:20; 2 Inga Ngwenduna (Satori) 36:57; 3 Brandon Keeling (AAC) 37:06; 4 Lukas vd Merwe (tmp) 37:54; 5 Michael Gibson (F Hoek) 38:08

Women: 1 Emma Slack (tmp) 42:28; 2 Tanya Posthumus-fox 43:52; 3 Zoe Mortimer (tmp_ 44:48; 4 Jeanri Thomas (Cape Multisport) 46:19; 5 Lola Lee (tmp) 46:59