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KNYSNA NEWS - Despite wet and miserable weather, more than 500 people turned up for the return of the Knysna Heads Marathon last weekend following a break in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The fifth edition of the marathon took place on Sunday 13 March, two years after the fourth in March 2020.
Knysna Heads Marathon runners can choose between four distances with naturally varying degrees of difficulty - 5km; 10km; 21,1km (half-marathon); and 42,2km (marathon). Only three of the four are timed and presented with official results as the 5km is simply a fun run.
While all of the runners were due to start on Thesen Island on Sunday, the 21,1km and 42,2km distances set off at 06:00 with the 5km and 10km runners following suit 30 minutes later.
All the distances set off down Long Street before turning onto the paved walkway that runs along the estuary towards George Rex Drive, where the 5km participants turned back.
Anthony Khedama, Anette van Schalkwyk, Frank Dayizana and Yolandi van der Berg kept each other company during the run.
The 10km runners continued a further 2,5km further before turning around. Both the half- and full marathon runners continued around Knysna Golf Club, made their way to and around Leisure Isle and headed towards the East Head before chugging on back to Thesen Island.
But, where the 21,1km turned to Thesen to finish, the 42,2km continued on down Waterfront Drive and then along the N2 before reaching the Phantom Pass Road where they turned back at the 31km mark.
The final 11km brought runners back to Thesen Island where they were received with much applause by other runners and onlookers.
In the 10km run Selwyn Matthews was first in a time of 31:48, followed by Francois Maquassa (31:59) and Asenathi Ndaheni (34:17). Nikki Walter was the first lady home, finishing in 43:13, with Susan Geer (44:22) and Kirsty Weir (46:01) following behind.
The 21,1km distance was well-competed, with the first lady coming in second overall. Anderson Ncube was first over the line in a time of 1:12:27, but first lady Catherine Williamson followed shortly thereafter, completing her half-marathon in 1:21:03.
Lindile Tokota (1:22:38) and Chumani Tabata (1:24:57) were third and fourth overall but also the second and third men's finishers. The second lady to finish was Melissa van Rensburg (1:28:22) while Benita Joubert (1:37:49) was the third lady across the line.
The full marathon race was tight right to the end, with only 44 seconds separating first and second place.
Winner Neil Massey finished in 2:29:52, overtaking second-placed and 2020 winner John April (2:30:36) in the last five kilometres. Karel Burger (2:42:47) was the third men's finisher and third overall. Despite April improving on his 2020 winning time, Massey proved too quick, finishing just under three minutes faster than April's 2020 time.
Anel van Wyk was the first ladies finisher (3:10:48), while Jo Mackenzie (3:16:46) and Joan van Wyngaard (3:31:36) followed behind her.
Van Wyk's finishing time was also an improvement on the 2020 winning ladies time, outdoing 2020 winner Cecilia Nel by 49 seconds.
Chanelle Smith and Koot Steenkamp continue to chug along in the 42,2km.
Photos: Blake Linder
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