FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TOP SOUTH AFRICAN TRAIL RUNNERS DOMINATE PEACE TRAIL RUNS AT SANLAM CAPE TOWN MARATHON

Cape Town, 20 September 2014 – The first two main events of the 2014 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon got off to an early start this morning in ideal weather conditions, with two of the country’s best off-road runners taking top honours in the Peace Trail 22km and Peace Trail 11km respectively.

Lucky Miya from Johannesburg won the 22km Peace Trail in a time of 1h25m27s and Raydon Balie won the 11km Peace Trail in a time of 46m13s. Nobukhosi Tshuma was the first lady to cross the sun-splashed 22km finish line in a time of 1h47m41s, with Mhike Vimbainashe, the first lady to cross the 11km finish line in a time of 1h01m38s.

“The race went really well, it was a very competitive field as the results and times show. The course was really nice although pretty technical. I really enjoyed it,” says Lucky Miya. Carrying a road running background, his personal-best marathon time was an impressive 2:16:41. Just over a month ago he came 19th in the grueling 22km uphill Pikes Peak Marathon in Colorado, US, with the start lying just slightly higher in altitude as Johannesburg.

Held on the second day of a three-day festival of running that includes a classic Olympian 42,2km marathon, the Peace Trail runs followed a breathtakingly beautiful course around Signal Hill and Lions Head, with sweeping views of the city, Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Atlantic seaboard, before descending to finish at Green Point Track A.

Other finalists included:

Long Course trail Run (22km)Open. Male

(1) Lucky Miya (1h25m27s)(2) Givemore Mudzinganyama (1h25m40s)(3) Tom Lusaseni (1h25m50s)(4) Bernard Rukadza (1h26m53s)(5) Michael Bailey (1h38m54s)

Open Female(1) Nobukhosi Tshuma (1h47m41s)(2) Kate Mapham (3) Danette Smith(4) Liandi Van Der Mesthuizen(5) Takalani Ndundani

Short Course Trail: (11km)Male Open

(1) Raydon Balie (46m13s)(2) Christiaan Greyling (3) Mazn Ndundani(4) Jaryd Uys(5) Peter Shackleton

Female Open(1) Mhike Vimbainashe (1h01m38s)(2) Saskia Jannsen(3) Kristine De Kock(4) Chatlotte Heuvings(5) Anna-Rose Le Roux

Yegs Ramiah, Chief Executive for Sanlam Brand, says, “We salute all the runners and winners today. It takes sheer determination and dedication to always keep the finishing line in mind. We know that the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon had a real and positive influence on your lives as well as the wider network associated with the race.”

The chief beneficiary of this year’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is Peace and Sport (L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport), a global initiative under the patronage of Prince Albert of Monaco that uses sport to educate young people affected by extreme poverty, recent conflict or a lack of social cohesion.

This year’s peace-themed Trail Runs, Relays and Fun Runs, commemorating South Africa’s 20 years of democracy, take place on the eve of 14th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in the Mother City in October.

The Cape Town PEACE Conference and Expo, held at the Southern Sun Waterfront, also opened yesterday. Endorsed by the United Nations’ Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace, and with the theme “African Visions – Global Legacies: Sport and Peace”, the expo brings together various stakeholders to discuss how sport can be used as a vehicle to build peaceful communities. Speakers included Deputy Minister for Sport and Recreation, Gert Oosthuizen; Minister for Cultural Affairs and Sport in the Western Cape, Nomafrench Mbombo; Goodwill Ambassador of the City of Marathon in Greece, Dimitris Kyriakides; Head of Group Corporate Affairs for Sanlam, Francois Adriaan; ambassador for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and Rugby World Cup 1995 winning captain, Francois Pienaar; and Olympian and Peace and Sport ambassador, Wilson Kipketer.

The 42,2km Marathon takes place tomorrow shortly after the 10km Peace Run.

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About Sanlam Cape Town Marathon

Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is managed through a joint partnership between Western Province Athletics (WPA), ASEM Running and the City of Cape Town. Endorsed by Elana Meyer and Francois Pienaar, it will be held from Saturday, 20 September to Sunday, 21 September 2014. The classic 42.2km marathon is the central focus of a festival of running through Africa’s Mother City, which includes a 10km Peace Run, a 4.2km Peace Fun Run, a 22km and 11km Peace Trail Run, and 5 x 4.2km Peace Corporate, School and University Relay.

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon route is competitive, yet beautiful, offering runners a unique experience that highlights the City’s natural splendour and top cultural attractions. The field is inclusive of the world’s elite athletes, club and non-club runners, wheelchair racers, casual joggers, social runners and walkers. Athletes and spectators can enjoy Cape Town’s unique festive atmosphere at safe, fun supporter zones along the route, as well as at the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point.

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon delivers a sustainable, charitable event that brings together runners and supporters to experience the exceptional spirit of one of Africa’s world-class city marathons. The World Major Marathons is a championship-style competition for marathon runners started in 2006. It includes the annual races for the cities of Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

For more information, please contact:

NATALIE PEREIRA HENRIQUESPress – Cape Town Marathon082 920 5366021 418 2466natalie@dummettandcompany.co.za