Local runners dominate PPC challenge
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday June 13, 2017 15:08
Long distance runners, Onneile Dintwe and Sesebo Matlapeng are Kings of the Hill beating seasoned campaigners from Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The 25-year-old Matlapeng had a smooth race and defended the title he won last year. He finished the race in a time of 48:28 compared to 47:30 he clocked last year. Matlapeng had to beat the pace of Gilbert Mutandiro, the Zimbabwean who has previously won the race on a number of occasions. Matlapeng, a Diacore marathon training programme member, was running solo in the absence of other team members, Rapula Diphoko and Sylvester Koko who were in Harare for the Southern Africa Track and Field Championship. “The race was a bit difficult for me because I was the pace setter and I was forced to run at the pace of other athletes. Going up hill was easy for me, as a short person, I do not bend as compared to my taller competitors who had to bend. That took the energy from them and an advantage to me,” he said. Matlapeng’s win is a glimmer of hope as it comes in the middle of a rough patch for the runner. He felt that he is now back in shape and ready to dominate long distance races. Dintwe continued her dominance in the women’s category, scooping the first prize in a time of 55:39 compared to the 56:00 in 2016. The runner defended the title she won last year. “I was using this race for speed training as a I prepare for the upcoming marathon. I am also in the process of heading to South Africa for the Spar Ladies series,” she said.
Dintwe said it was unfortunate that she does not get the much-needed competition due to the few number of women who participate in local races. She said now she is forced to compete against men. The two champions walked away with P7,500 cash prize each. The second position in the men’s race went to Dikgakgamatso Modisagape with Onkarabile Matlhake finishing third. In the women’s section, Gaone Bathoen came second with Mantshapelo Badumetse third.