KUBE ubuphoqophoqo bamarekhodi kwiDurban International Marathon ebibanjelwe eThekwini ngeSonto ekuseni.
Kulo mjaho ongeminye ehamba phambili kwiWorld Athletics, u-Elroy Gelant uqophe irekhodi elisha ngesikhathi esiwu-2:09.32.
Nyakenye uTebello Ramakongoane uyena owayebeke isikhathi esisheshayo salo mjaho engena entanjeni ngo-2:10.11.
Indawo yesibili ithathwe nguMathew Leeto (2:09.47), uStephen Mokoka wangena endaweni yesithathu (2:09.52).
Kwabesifazane uCain Oldknow naye ulisebenzisile ithuba lokwenza isikhathi esisheshayo enqoba ngo-2:29.46. Isikhathi sanyakenye sasiwu-2:30:31 kunqoba u-Annie Bothman.
Umgijimi waseZimbabwe u-Ethel Pagiso uthathe indawo yesibili (2:35.38) kwathi u-Ameba Degu wase-Ethiopia wangena endaweni yesithathu (3:10.10).
U-Elroy no-Oldknow abagcinanga ngokuba ngompetha beDurban International kodwa bathathe nezicoco zaseNingizimu Afrika njengoba lo mjaho ubuhlanganiswe ne-ASA SA Marathon Championship. Abashaye intambo emjahweni omkhulu banqobe u-R75 000.
Bekulindelekile ukuthi abagijimi benze izikhathi ezisheshayo. Yize kunjalo bahlulekile ukwenza izikhathi ezizobafaka kuma-Olympic aseParis, eFrance kusukela ngoJulayi.
Bekuvele kulindelekile ukuthi kulo mjaho kuqhephuke amarekhodi. U-Elroy uyena osasidinga isikhathi esizomnikeza ithikithi lokuya eParis kwazise u-Oldknow usevele unalo.
Bekumele agijime u-2:08:10. Ngemuva komjaho u-Elroy ukhale ngokushuba komqhudelwano.
Uncome kakhulu izinga lokuhleleka komjaho. Uma egcina ehlulekile wukwenza isikhathi, kulindeleke aye kuma-Olympic ngokwezilinganiso zeWorld Athletics.
"Kusizile ukuthi kube nabagijimi bezinga eliphezulu kulo mjaho. Kusiphushe ukuthi senze izikhathi ezinhle. Sekuyikho nje ukuthi kumele siphushe ezokugcina, ezizosifaka kuma-Olympic.
“Ngilithandile izinga engilibonile. Ngokuzayo kuzomele silenyuse kakhulu, sinalo ithuba lokwenza izikhathi ezinhle kakhulu kunalezi,“ kusho uGalant oveze ukuthi kungamjabulisa ukuyomela elakuleli okwesithathu kuma-Olympic.
U-Oldknow uthe bekuyisifiso sakhe ukuthi afake isicoco esikhulu egameni lakhe.
“Bengikufuna kakhulu ukunqoba isicoco sakuleli njengoba ebenginaso ngese-4km Cross Country. Bengidinga esinegama elikhulu, lokhu kube yibhonasi,” kusho u-Oldknow.
Uthe uzoqhubeka nokuyibamba kweminye imijaho eyisebenzisela ukuzicijela umjaho wama-Olympic.