WILLIAM Makwalakwala won the Old Mutual Om die Dam 50km in two hours 51 minutes five seconds on Saturday, leaving more than 6000 runners strung out around the dam in his wake.
Heavy mist and cool weather greeted the massive field as runners headed across the dam wall with the contenders coming to the fore on the Kommando Nek climb.
By half way the leaders had been whittled to a quartet of Elias Mabane (Nedbank), Philip Molefe (Rustenburg), Lukas Nonyana (Absa), and Mokwalakwala, who was content to sit just off the front shoulders.
Mabane, who won the 2011 Forever Loskop 50km in an age-group record time, looked the part of a victor until the Saartjies climb where Mokwalakwala appeared the stronger.
Mokwalakwala shadowed Mabane down into the lower streets of Schoemanville before using the penultimate climb to take the lead.
The kick was devastating with Mokwalakwala crashing through the tape fully two-and-a-half minutes clear of Mabane and more than a kilometre clear of third placed Nonyana, who finished in 2:54:15.
"I'm very happy. This was intended to test my fitness in preparation for Comrades; winning was a bonus," said Mokwalakwala, who trains under the guidance of triathlon exponent Glen Gore.
"Comrades is the real focus. I've done 6:09 before, but I want a top-three this year."
There was little changing of positions among the top-five that dipped under the three-hour barrier.
Mabane, who plans to defend his Loskop 50km title next month, added the 40-49 category to his second place with Butuki Jantjies second in the age group and closing the top ten in 3:07:33.
It was a gun-to-tape performance from Chiyedza Chokore, who earned her third title in three hours 35 minutes six seconds. The Zimbabwean won in 2009 and 2010 before finishing second behind her sister in 2011.
Julanie Basson finished second in 3:37:05. Ndofhiwa Mandiwana came in next in 3:45:34.
Mokwalakwala obliterates field
WILLIAM Makwalakwala won the Old Mutual Om die Dam 50km in two hours 51 minutes five seconds on Saturday, leaving more than 6000 runners strung out around the dam in his wake.
Heavy mist and cool weather greeted the massive field as runners headed across the dam wall with the contenders coming to the fore on the Kommando Nek climb.
By half way the leaders had been whittled to a quartet of Elias Mabane (Nedbank), Philip Molefe (Rustenburg), Lukas Nonyana (Absa), and Mokwalakwala, who was content to sit just off the front shoulders.
Mabane, who won the 2011 Forever Loskop 50km in an age-group record time, looked the part of a victor until the Saartjies climb where Mokwalakwala appeared the stronger.
Mokwalakwala shadowed Mabane down into the lower streets of Schoemanville before using the penultimate climb to take the lead.
The kick was devastating with Mokwalakwala crashing through the tape fully two-and-a-half minutes clear of Mabane and more than a kilometre clear of third placed Nonyana, who finished in 2:54:15.
"I'm very happy. This was intended to test my fitness in preparation for Comrades; winning was a bonus," said Mokwalakwala, who trains under the guidance of triathlon exponent Glen Gore.
"Comrades is the real focus. I've done 6:09 before, but I want a top-three this year."
There was little changing of positions among the top-five that dipped under the three-hour barrier.
Mabane, who plans to defend his Loskop 50km title next month, added the 40-49 category to his second place with Butuki Jantjies second in the age group and closing the top ten in 3:07:33.
It was a gun-to-tape performance from Chiyedza Chokore, who earned her third title in three hours 35 minutes six seconds. The Zimbabwean won in 2009 and 2010 before finishing second behind her sister in 2011.
Julanie Basson finished second in 3:37:05. Ndofhiwa Mandiwana came in next in 3:45:34.