The first Freedom Run in 2011 was the initiative of Michael Mbambani, coach and founder of Ikhamva Athletics Club and it was held with the support of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. This year the 10th edition of the Freedom Run will be celebrated on Saturday, 23 April.
“The race will start and finish at the Raymond Mhlaba Sport Centre in Motherwell with a strong winner’s purse of R7 000, free T-shirts for the first 300 entrants and gold medals for all finishers within the cut-off time,” said Mbambani.
“We are looking forward to a fantastic race and expect a fast and exciting finish.”
The Freedom 10km race has enjoyed several fast and nail-biting finishes. Well known sports commentator Alec Riddle described the 2019 race as one of the best finishes he had witnessed when Melikhaya Frans broke away from the front bunch at the 7km mark and was chased by David Manja of Nedbank, Central Gauteng Athletics Club.
Frans kept up a fantastic pace of 2.46min per km to beat Manja to the finish one second ahead, in 29.08, and scoop the prize purse and the added prestige of being the EP 10km Champion.
Owing to COVID-19 limitations the race was not held in 2020 or 2021 so many top athletes are looking forward to the 2022 edition which will be presented in partnership with Eastern Province Athletics and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
Athletes can enter at Brian Bands or online on www.webtickets.co.za and pre-entries close on 20 April. Entry fees are R100 for 10km, and athletes over 60 years will receive a 50% discount. Temporary licences will cost R40.
Collection of race numbers (pre-entries) and late entries will be accepted from 16:00 until 19:00 on Friday, 22 April at the EP Athletics office, Westbourne Oval, Westbourne Road. Race numbers can be collected on the morning of the event however there will be no late entries on race day. For more information, contact Michael Mbambani 079 149 6796.
