Free State OR Tambo Marathon
The Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation will host the 2nd annual Free State O.R. Tambo Marathon on 15 October 2017 and will start and finish at the Mangaung Athletics Stadium. The marathon will be hosted in collaboration with the Free State Sport Confederation, Free State Athletics, Manguang Athletics and Pamoja Athletics Club. First staged in 2016, the marathon has made its hallmark as one of South Africa’s premier marathons. The 2017 edition of the Free State O.R. Tambo Marathon coincides with the centenary celebrations of the life and times of
O.R. Tambo hence 2017 was declared as “The Year of O.R. Tambo”. O.R. Tambo made a heroic contribution to the liberation of the people of South Africa and also championed the cause to realize our constitutional democracy.
It is anticipated that the City of Mangaung will become a beehive of activities hence members of the community are expected to come out in their numbers to support their favorite athletes. Two Free State-based athletes Tyler Beling and Louzanne Coetzee are among local athletes who have entered the marathon and have been tipped as athletes to look out for. Tyler Beling is a grade 12 learner and a prefect at Fichartpark Hoërskool. Louzanne Coetzee, a blind Paralympian who hails from Mangaung entered the T11 21km half marathon in 2016 and finished off at 1h39. She is taking part again this year and her goal is to finish the marathon at 1h30. Coetzee and her guide Khothatso Mokone broke the world record in the 500m at the Nedbank National 2017 Paralympic Championships currently earlier this year. In 2016 Coetzee was also part of the South African team at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and the World Record holder in the 5000m race. Coetzee is also the current African Champion in the 1500m race.
Participants will compete in three categories, namely:
- 42.2 KM marathon,
- 21.1 KM half-marathon, and
- 10 KM race.
The prize money for the Free State OR Tambo 42.2 KM marathon ranges from R1 000 to R80 000. Both first position male and female winners will each bag the R80 000 prize money, while the rest of the top ten winners take home prizes ranging from R8 000 to R60 000. For the 21.1 KM half-marathon, the first position winner will bag the R30 000 prize money, while the rest of the top ten winners take home prizes ranging from R1 000 to R20 000. The 10 KM race first position winner bags the R15 000 prize money and other top five winners take home prizes ranging from R3 000 to R12 000. All race details can be accessed on www.fsortambomarathon.co.za.
Enquiries:
Tankiso Zola
Cell: 082 940 2392
Tel: 051 – 410 4742/4786/4735
E-mail: tankiso@sacr.fs.gov.za
