Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 55, February 2014

WHAT’S NEWS WHAT’S NEWS Delhi Delight for Gladwin Gladwin Mzazi ran the fastest half marathon by a South African for 2013 when he finished seventh in the AirTel Delhi Half Marathon in India in mid-December. He clocked 1:01:12 to take 26 seconds off his previous best of 1:01:38, which he ran in the 2012 SA Half Marathon Champs in Cape Town. His new PB moves him up to just outside the top 10 all-time fastest SA halfmarathoners. SA Duo do well in China Images: Backpage Media & Ryk du Plessis Reigning SA marathon champion Benedict Moeng and Kim Laxton started off their 2014 campaigns on a high note in the Xiamen International Marathon in China, where Benedict finished fifth in a personal best 2:10:21, breaking his former best by almost four minutes, and Kim was sixth in 2:46:52, the second-fastest of her career. The two South Africans were taken to China by the Comrades Marathon Association as part of an international trade partnership between the Comrades and Xiamen races. Tanith Goes Faster in the USA In the downhill San Diego Holiday Half Marathon in the USA on 29 December, ONLINE MA Like, fifth in the women’s javelin, while the other South Africans ranked are Anaso Jobodwana (eighth in the men’s 200m), Zarck Visser (eighth in the men’s long jump), Johan Cronje (ninth in the men’s 1500m) and Willem Coertzen (ninth in the decathlon). Interestingly, Athletics International magazine ranks Johan up three positions in sixth for the 1500m, but has Khotso down two spots in sixth and Zarck down one spot in ninth for the long jump. South Africa’s Tanith Maxwell finished third in 1:15:59, capping another successful year that included wins in the Vienna Half Marathon in Austria (1:17:17) and the OUTsurance KFM 94.7 Gun Run Half Marathon on home soil (1:17:24). Earlier in 2013, she finished 10th in the San Diego Half Marathon in 1:16:48, showing how consistently she ran all year. Six SA Athletes Make Ranking Six South Africans have been included by Track & Field News magazine in its annual rankings for 2013, with Khotso Mokoena the highest-placed of our athletes at fourth in the men’s long jump. Sunette Viljoen is ranked Tweet, Connect! Chat, debate, ﬁnd inspiration, enter our cool competitions… Join the Modern Athlete online family today! READER SURVEY Who helped you in the beginning of your running journey? Siﬁso Magagula: “I just started a few months ago after a friend convinced me it’s the right lifestyle. Now I enjoy waking up at 3:34am on Saturdays for 10km in Pretoria.” Steven Morrison: “My high school, which forced us to participate in Cross Country. My road running was just an add-on later on.” Sonja Aucamp: “I have a disabled brother, Hein Langenhofel, who has just completed his 20th Comrades, who told me it’s easy. Coming from him, I thought I should do one before I turn 40. Needless to say, I thought if he can

Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 55, February 2014 | Page 9