Lucrative prize money to be expected at the Nedbank Johannesburg Marathon

Fierce competition can again be expected between South Africa's marathon runners and their counterparts from the surrounding Southern Region countries. The South Africans, smarting from tasting defeat-after-defeat at the hands of the foreigners, will be seeking revenge and whoever crosses the line first to win the first prize of R60 000 will know that he has been in a battle royal.

Second prize will be R30000 and third prize R20000 with prize money going down to 10th place in both the men and women races. Prize money structure for men and women will be the same.

There will also be prize money for the different categories for men and women.

In addition to the Marathon a 10km race and a 5km fun run will also be held. The male and woman winner in the 10km race will each walk away with R5000 in their pockets with the second and third placed athletes each winning R4000 and R 3500 respectively.

The 2008 42.2km race was won by Thabo Ntlaloe (Mr Price) who finished with a time of 2hrs 20min 9sec. Nkopano Seqhobane (Gauteng Striders) time 2:20:11 and Teboho Sello (Toyota) time 2:20:19; took the 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

Last year the ladies were led by Samukeliso Moyo (Mr Price) winning the race with a time of 2hrs 46min 35sec, followed by Dimakatso Menong (Gauteng Striders) with a time of 2:56:37 and the third place was won by Mboeholowo Sihadi (Nedbank) with a time of 2:59:33. Moyo will not be present to defend her title this year as she will be preparing for the Two Oceans ultra-marathon. Sharon Tavenga (Nedbank) will be the biggest draw card for this race. Tavenga is currently in Kenya training with Lornah Kiplakat the World Marathon Champion and she is determined to take SA by storm when she returns. The Nedbank Johannesburg Marathon will be Tavenga's second marathon event that she will be participating in since she started her running career. Her first marathon was the Nedbank Cape Town Marathon that was held on 21 September 2008 and won it with a magnificent time of 2hr42min57min. The Nedbank Johannesburg Marathon will be her second marathon where she is more than ready to set her mark on the marathon stage.

The race will take place at Emmarentia Botanical Gardens on 22 March. 42.2km will start at 6h30, 10km at 7h00 and 5km fun run 7h45.

Closing date for the 42.2km and 10km entries is 13 March. No faxed entries will be accepted. Athletes may log on to www.enteronline.co.za to enter or call ASA on 011 880 5800 for more information about the race.