Meyer
and Hoff South Africa’s Half Marathon Champions
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
Elana Meyer comfortably won the women's race of the South African Half Marathon Championships in Durban on Sunday with 1.10:53. She broke the course record of 1.13:39, set by defending champion Gwen Griffith, who was not able to compete for health reasons. Half marathon debutante Carlien Cornelissen came from behind to snatch second spot in 1.16:23, while former Soweto marathon champion Sarah Mahlangu was third in 1.16:26.
In the men’s race, running the second half marathon of his career Shadrock Hoff surged in the last kilometre to shake off Abner Chipu and defending champion Gert Thys to win the race in 1.02:04. This was a marked improvement from the 1.04:47 he run at his debut at the Phalaborwa half marathon in Namakgale (Northern Province) on July 24. Chipu clocked 1.02:13 to Thys’ 1.02:23. Mlueleki Nobanda and a rejuvenated Laban Nkete followed in career bests of 1.02:24 and 1.02:40 respectively.
A demoralising groin injury has lead middle distance track specialist Hoff to try his luck in the half marathon. Determined not to let his endurance training to go to waste, Hoff had decided to enter the SA Championships in the hope of getting a chance to do his country proud at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in October.
"After qualifying for the World Track and Field Championships in Seville (Spain), l had hopes of running a fast 10,000m this year. However my plans have been frustrated by a groin injury which l have been nursing since the end of last year.
"The pain in my groin becomes more intense when l try to do quality speed training. This is why my track season has been cut short. This injury is similar to the one l suffered in 1996," said Hoff.
That year, Hoff underwent an operation at Utrecht Hospital in the Netherlands and missed the 1997 season. He was horrified by the prospect of undergoing a similar operation that would result in him sitting out another year waiting to recover. Olympic marathon champion Josiah Thugwane and 1998 World Half Marathon Champion Elana Meyer came to his rescue.
"Josiah and Elana advised me to see a specialist in Cape Town who has helped them in the past. Josiah told me the specialist had helped him to recover from a similar injury that prevented him from completing the London and New York marathons last year.
"This specialist treats us with oral medicine, and we do not have stop training for an entire year. Although l cannot do quality speed work, l can work on my endurance. This suits me well for the half marathon," said the South African 5000m record holder.
"Using natural speed, l can outsprint most half marathon runners in the closing stages of the race. In Phalaborwa l was cautious as it was my first half marathon. Maybe this injury is a blessing in disguise. Perhaps l will excel in the half marathon. The way to find out what lies in store is to make the best of the situation.
"I will run a serious race in 10,000m in Seville. However if all does not go well, l am confident l will do better at the World Half Marathon Championships in Palermo (Italy). I want to be among those who will defend the team title at the World Half Marathon Championships.
"For me Palermo is a build up to my debut at the full marathon in Rotterdam next April. Hopefully l will qualify to run the event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics," said Hoff.
Leading Results
Women
1 Elana Meyer (Boland) 1.10:53
2 Carlien Cornelissen (Gauteng North) 1.16:23
3 Sarah Mahlangu (Central Gauteng) 1.16:26
4 Alta Verster (Central North West) 1.17:44
5 Azindini Lukhwareni (Northern Province) 1.18:22
6 Grace de Oliviera (KwaZulu-Natal) 1.18:25
7 Riana Janse van Rensburg (Gauteng North) 1.19:21
8 Sibongile Ngconwane (Mpumalanga) 1.19:46
9 MarietjieMcdermott (Gauteng North) 1.20:21
10 Maureen Dladla (Border) 1.20:44.
Men
1 Shadrack Hoff (Gauteng North) 1.02:04
2 Abner Chipu (Eastern Province) 1.02:13
3 Gert Thys (Griqualand West) 1.02:23
4 Mluleki Nobanda (Border) 1.02:24
5 Laban Nkete (Gauteng North) 1.02:40
6 Makhasonke Fika (Eastern Province) 1.02:49
7 Tsunaki Kalamori (Gauteng North) 1.02:52
8 Simon Morolong (Gauteng North) 1.02:58
9 Kani Simon (Gauteng North) 1.02:59
10 Bethuel Netsifhefe (Gauteng North) 1.03:02
