By popular demand, the deadline for athletes to enter the 2014 edition of the Mandela deadline has been extended to Monday, 11 August 2014. This is due to a lot of interest shown by athletes including many within the Africa and overseas.
Top athletes from around the world have already registered for this month’s Mandela Day Marathon which is set to take place on Sunday 31 August. This Marathon, whose growth has been exponential over the past three years, is set to break another record in terms of participation.
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has called on all athletes intending to participate to make sure they register within the extended deadline. “We have received entries from some of the world’s finest long-distance athletes. Even our own Comrades Marathon champion, Bongani Mthembu, will be participating in this marathon. This is why we are confident that this marathon will be a huge success,” said Dube-Ncube.
“This marathon will also be broadcast live on SABC which is an indication of its importance. We also expect this marathon to yield great benefits for the local economy of uMgungundlovu, as over 10 000 athletes and their families will descend on the capital city,” said Dube-Ncube.
Athletes of the calibre of Willie Mtolo, who is a former winner of the renowned New York Marathon, will make this marathon a truly intriguing one as will scores of other celebrities.
Elite female athletes registered so far:
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Tabitha Tsatsa – Maxed Elite (Zimbabwe)
Marathon Personal Best: 2:29:20, Seoul Korea 2009
Career achievements:
- Winner 2013 Two Oceans Marathon;
- 49th Olympic Games Marathon 2008 Beijing 2:37:10;
- Has represented Zimbabwe in the Olympic Games Marathon, World Championships Marathon and numerous World Cross Country Championships.
“This is my first time running Mandela and I am looking forward to the race. I’ve trained especially for the hills and waiting now for race day.”
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Samukeliso Moyo – Maxed Elite (Zimbabwe)
Marathon Personal Best: 2:37:17, Pyonyang 2008
Career Achievements:
- Winner 2013 Cape Town Marathon;
- Winner 2008, 2011 and 2012 City to City 50km;
- Winner 2009 SA Marathon Championships;
- Has represented Zimbabwe in the World Cross Country Championships, Olympic Games and World Athletics Championships.
“This race has been by focus in the year and I’m ready.”
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Louisa Leballo – Maxed Elite
Marathon Personal Best: 2:46:52 Cape Town 2007
Career Achievements:
- Represented South Africa in The World Half Marathon Championships in 2000 and 2010
- 4th in South African 10km Championships 2011
Coming back from the birth of her child
“This will be my first marathon back since the birth of my child and the training has been going well for it.”
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Alemtsehay Kakissa – Nedbank (Ethiopia)
Marathon Personal Best: 2:37:15, Beiruit 2008
Career Achievements:
- 9th Two Oceans 56km 2014;
- 4th Nongoma Zululand Ultra 56km 2014;
- Winner Johnson Crane Marathon 2014;
- DNF Comrades Marathon 2014;
Alemtsehay is based in Johannesburg, South Africa and has had a heavy racing schedule this year racking up over 5 marathon wins this year already.
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Shitaye Gemechu Debellu – Nedbank (Ethiopia)
Marathon Personal Best: 2:26:10, Paris 2010
Career Achievements:
- Winner 2001 Amsterdam Marathon 2:28:40;
- 7th 2001 World Championships Marathon 2:28:40;
- 10th 2003 World Championships Marathon 2:27:26;
- 2nd 2012 Hong Kong Marathon 2:31:44;
- 2nd Two Oceans 56km 2014;
Served a 2 year doping ban for EPO after failing a drug test in 2009 in Luxembourg.
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Catherine Skhosana – Nedbank
Marathon Personal Best: 2:48:06 George 2011
Career Achievements:
- Former SA 800m champion;
- Represented South Africa on numerous occasions;
- Moved up to the marathon in 2010;
- 3rd Mandela Marathon 2013 3:09:38
Elite male athletes registered so far:
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Brighton Chipere – Maxed Elite (Zimbabwe)
Marathon Personal Best: 2:13:18, Podgorica 2009
Career achievements:
- 1st Mandela Marathon 2012 – 2:28:32 (Current course record holder);
- 1st Township to Township Marathon 2012;
“My training has been going well for the Mandela Marathon and my aim is to win and break my own course record. Last year I performed badly as I started the race with an injury but this year has been smooth.”
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Thobani Chagwe – Maxed Elite
He is making his marathon debut in the Mandela Marathon.
Career Achievements:
- 1st Mandela Marathon 10km 2013 – 31:02;
- 2nd Hammarsdale 21km 2014;
“This is my first marathon and I am hoping to do well. Ive been in a camp in Bulwer and things are good. Im looking forward to the race day.”
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Mncedisi Mkhize – Maxed Elite
Marathon Personal Best – 2:23:00 SA marathon Championships 2009
Career Achievements:
- 3rd Comrades Marathon 2007;
- 6th Comrades Marathon 2014;
- 6 Comrades Marathon gold medals;
- 3rd Township to Township Marathon 2013 – 2:25:43;
“This is my first Mandela Marathon and I’ve been training hard since my Comrades gold this year showed me I’m back to my best. I am ready for the hills!”
Members of the media wishing to be accredited to cover the Mandela Day Marathon, please send your requests to the following:
Enquiries:
Lennox Mabaso
Communications Unit, Ministry for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, KwaZulu-Natal.
Mobile: 082 884 2403
Mbeko Nzimande
Mobile: 074 312 9933
Senzo Mzila
Mobile: 082 302 3472
