THE ninth edition of the Freedom Run, presented in partnership with Eastern Province Athletics and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, will start and finish at the NU2 stadium in Motherwell on Saturday, April 27.
The Freedom Run, the race which was founded by Ikhamva AC, has grown from 176 entries in 2011 to 1 500 last year and organisers are expecting a strong turnout of runners.
According to founder of the Ikhamva Athletics Club, the Freedom Run and the Legacy Project Series, Mike Mbambani, this 10km run is regarded as the best and richest event on the Eastern Province Calendar.
“We have introduced two R5 000 incentives for both the male (28.32) and female (33.21) records this year, sponsored by the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, so we are expecting a fast and exciting finish,” said Mbambani.
Ikhamva and Nedbank Athletic Clubs, who are organising the Freedom Run, will be assisted en route by volunteers from the local community.
The race includes a 10km road race and 5km family run/walk and the first 400 entrants in the 10km will receive free T-shirts.
Encouraged by the generous prize purse of R12 000 for the first male and female home, a number of top out-of-town runners have entered this year including running twins, Lebo and Lebohang Phalula.
The 10km has the added prestige of EP Championship status this year, so it will be interesting to see how local athletes compete. Last year’s first Eastern Province athlete home, and in fifth place overall, Melikhaya Frans, of Ikhamva Athletics Club, ran his best time of 28.49.
His coach and race organiser, Mbambani, was very happy with the overall success of the event and in particular the efforts of the local athletes.
Mariano Eesou, of Madibaz Athletics Club, was the second EP athlete home, and in seventh position overall, in the fantastic time of 29.36. Amos Nyongo of Motherwell Athletics Club was the third EP athlete home in 30.21.
Entries are open online via webtickets.co.za until Monday, April 22, or entry forms are available at Brian Bands, The Footballer, Action Sports, Sportsworld, and Sportsmans Warehouse before close of business on Wednesday, April 24.
Registration and late entries will take place at the NU2 Stadium in Motherwell from 16:30 to 19:00 on Friday, April 26 and from 06:00 on the morning of the race.
For more info contact Mike on 061 079 2426, or EPA on 041 374 2818.
