Gqeberha’s top road runner, Melikhaya Frans, has set his sights on a podium finish in the 2025 Nelson Mandela Bay Half-Marathon at Pollok Beach on June 28.
A strong international flavour is expected at the event.
Big-name runners such as Kenyan Rodgers Kipchirchir Murei and Saibi Chebet of Uganda have already confirmed their participation, with more expected to add their names to the entry list.
On the local front, South Africans Stephen Mokoka, 40, who has made four Olympic appearances and holds a 50km ultra-marathon world record and three Cape Town Marathon titles, and 2024 winner Elroy Gelant have yet to confirm their attendance.
However, both are likely to be on the starting line on race day.
Frans is unfazed by the strong line-up.
The 35-year-old Ikhamva Athletics Club runner recently won the Rimi Riga Marathon in Latvia.
He clocked a time of two hours, 13 minutes, and 20 seconds.
“My preparations for the race are going well for now,” he said.
“We haven’t done much training after the marathon, our focus is on trying to build up speed now, to get back on track.
“I cannot wait for June 28 to run the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon.”
In 2022, Namakoe Nkhasi of Lesotho won the open men’s race in 1:01:01, but Frans did well to grab second place overall to secure the national 21.1km title, setting an Eastern Province Athletics provincial record of 1:01:03 in the SA Half Marathon.
In 2024, he finished 13th overall and this year he has set a top-five goal for himself.
“I'll be happy with a podium finish or making the top five. If I win, that would be great, but if the weather is great my target is a podium or top-five finish.
Three-time Olympian Gelant, 37, who won the first edition of the NMB Half Marathon in 2014, crossed the finish line in one hour, three minutes and 54 seconds in 2024 for his second title.
The 2022 champion, Namakoe Nkhasi, took second place in 1:04:04, and Precious Mashele was third in 1:04:05 for Central Gauteng Athletics.
In the 2024 women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tadu Nare led from the gun to the tape to win in 1:12:01, ahead of compatriot Diniya Abaraya (1:12:31), who finished as the first junior.
Lesotho’s Blandina Makatisi was third in 1:13:39, while Glenrose Xaba, in fourth overall (1:13:42), finished as the first South African to defend her national title.
The 11th edition of the popular race will see an addition of a 5km distance, and the aim is to attract more development athletes.
The Herald
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