The Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon is back in full force and EP Athletics is gearing up for well over one thousand athletes to line up at Pollok Beach, Summerstrand, on June 3. Race Director, Michael Mbambani, is looking forward to hosting the 9th NMB Half Marathon.
"With the support of our title sponsors, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, we are expecting around 1500 local, national and international elite athletes to gather in Gqeberha – our City of action," Mbambani said.
"Our team is working towards delivering an incredible and competitive event with outstanding results which will be broadcast live on SuperSport. The race, which holds World Athletics Elite Label status, will also serve as the ASA Half Marathon National Championships."
The event received high praise from Athletic SA's president, James Moloi.
"We must applaud the organisers of the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon which incorporates the ASA Half Marathon Championships for being one of the best organised races of the 21.1km distance not only in the country but in the world."
After a thrilling finish last year Lesotho's Namakoe Nkhasi won in his new personal best time of 1:01:01, narrowly beating hometown favourite Melikhaya Frans by seconds.
Frans smashed his lifetime best by over a minute as he set a new Eastern Province Athletics record and won his first national title in 1:01:03.
Both Namakoe and Melikhaya will be on the startline, with hot competition from Kenya's Kipkemoi Kiprono and Ethiopia's Dinkalem Ayele, who are looking to improve on their fast personal best times. Desmond Zibi, of Ikhamva athletics club, will have the EPA record of 1.12.30 in his sights, which he narrowly missed in 2022.
Last year the woman's race was dominated by Ethiopia's Ftaw Zeray who led from gun to tape to claim the victory in 1:06:57, but will not be competing this year. Confirmed competitors are Genet Habela Abdurkadir, of Ethiopia, who is looking forward to improving her personal best time of 1.12.57 when she last competed in the 2018 edition of the Half Marathon, recent winner of the Two Oceans Half Marathon, her first attempt at this distance, Emma Pallant, who is looking to push for a faster time in Gqeberha, and Ethiopia's Chaltu Bedo, who boasts a personal best half marathon time of 1.11.50.
So the race is set for another spectacular finish with top local, national and international athletes competing on South African soil.
Impressed by the fast times and quality of the race MMC Bassie Kamana, responsible for Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture, gave the race the thumbs up.
