Athletics: 8th Southern Region Half-Marathon Championships-Bashingili, Funani take top honors |07 November 2005
Having prepared himself for Saturday’s race by participating in the IAAF World Half-Marathon in Edmonton, Canada, last month, Bashingili easily clinched the men’s title with a powerful display of front-running for half of the race for his first ever win outside his native country.
It was a runaway victory for 26-year-old Bashingili in a time of 1 hour 07 minutes 4 seconds (1h07:4) as he blunted the challenges of Mauritian Jeetun Dharamjai and Seychellois Simon Labiche.
Labiche, who twisted his right ankle when negotiating the turning point at Pointe Larue to return to Stad Popiler, gamely battled for second place but he lost the silver medal to Mauritian Dharamjai in 1h:09:2. Labiche had to settle for third position in 1h09:6.
The women’s race was taken by South African Funani.
The 23-year-old, whose best time is 1h18, started sensing victory when two of her compatriots were slowed down by running stomachs and Funani, who started the race wearing running shoes but took them off after 14 kilometres, crossed the finish line in a pair of socks, clocking 1h20:5 for the 21 kilometres.
She was followed in second and third positions by Onneile Dintwe of Botswana in 1h21:3 and compatriot Takalane Nthulane in 1h22:2.
With South Africa claiming fourth and fifth positions through Gloria Baeba (1h23:3) and Nomsa Ntsethe (1h25:4), Seychellois Simone Jaffa finished sixth, clocking 1h31:2 to win a pay check of R2,500.
Being the first local female runner to finish the race Jaffa, 28, got R1,500 and a bonus R1,000 for hitting the tape in a time which is faster than 1h32:0.
The fact that she broke the long-standing Seychelles record of 1h33:1 belonging to Margaret Morel since April 1981, Jaffa is to receive R500 when the Seychelles Amateur Athletics Federation (SAAF) rewards all Seychelles record breakers.
Anna Barra, the only other Seychellois female runner involved in the race, was seventh and last in 1h38:1 for R1,000.
The three local male athletes to receive cash prizes were Labiche (R1,250), fourth place finisher Ronny Marie (R1,000) and boxer Kitson Julie who came in sixth overall (R400).
There was also a raffle draw open to only Seychellois runners and the winners were Clifford Savy (a day trip with Helicopter Seychelles), Labiche (dinner for two at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Beach Resort and Casino) and Geordie Auguste (dinner for two at the Plantation Club Resort and Casino).
Saturday’s race started at Stad Popiler and the athletes headed to Pointe Larue via the Providence high way to make a U-turn in front of the Seychelles Marketing Board (SMB) Agro factory. They then returned to Stad Popiler by taking the same route.
With the race being held on a rather flat course and at sea level, the participants had good oxygen and the fresh morning breeze coming from sea, but still some of them felt that it was really hot to run.
It is to note that Angola, Namibia and Zambia were also to compete in the half-marathon, but failed to arrive here.
Women’s results
1st Nokwanda Funani (South Africa) 1h20:5
2nd Onneile Dintwe (Botswana) 1h21:3
3rd Takalane Nthulane (South Africa) 1h22:2
4th Gloria Baeba (South Africa) 1h23:3
5th Nomsa Ntsethe (South Africa) 1h25:4
6th Simone Jaffa (Seychelles) 1h31:1
7th Anna Barra (Seychelles) 1h38:1
Men’s results
1st Ndabili Bashingili (Botswana) 1h07:4
2nd Jeetun Dharamjai (Mauritius) 1h09:2
3rd Simon Labiche (Seychelles) 1h09:6
4th Ronny Marie (Seychelles) 1h12:5
5th Judex Durhonne (Mauritius) 1h13:5
6th Kitson Julie (Seychelles) 1h22:1
7th Roger Morel (Seychelles) 1h31:1
8th Geordie Auguste (Seychelles) 1h36:6
9th Vincent Bandon (Seychelles) 1h47:1
10th Clifford Savy (Seychelles) 2h08:3
What they said
Ndabili Bashingili, men’s winner: “That’s the first time I won a race outside Botswana.
I feel good about the win but I did not improve my personal best. Although the course was rather tough, I still feel I could have done a better time if there was someone pushing me all the way. Upon reaching Pointe Larue, my coach (Bobby Gaseitsiwe) told me to leave the two runners close to me. I started kicking and it was not easy to run alone.”
Nokwana Funani, women’s winner: “I’m happy I won. This is my first win and I’m proud of myself. I was not expecting a win and the race was not too fast. I had to take off my running shoes during the race as my feet did not feel comfortable in them.”
Simon Labiche, first Seychellois male and third overall: “In such a race, you should not make mistakes. But I committed one at the turning point and I twisted my right ankle.
Therefore, I could not maintain the same rhythm as on the first lap to keep up with the runner from Botswana. Even when Mauritian Dharamjai overtook me I could not follow him.
I wanted to beat my Seychelles record but I could not. It’s my first half-marathon of the year and I hope I can achieve the dream sometime in the future. I’m not disappointed because our preparation for the race was not that good. We trained once daily and then go to work. I hope that in the future we long distance runners get the opportunity to train at high altitude before such races. Training and competing at sea level won’t make us improve our performances. I thank every one who helped us in one way or another.”
Simone Jaffa, first Seychellois female runner and new record holder: “I had a good race as I trained hard. Even if the South Africans and the runner from Botswana, who follow specialist training for such races, dictated the race, I remained concentrated on what I had to do. I’m happy and proud that I’ve beaten the Seychelles record in my first half-marathon race.”
Onneile Dintwe, women’s runner-up: “I’m very happy with my race. I started the race well and finished well. Half-marathons are tough and although I was expecting to do 1h18, I’m not disappointed. There’s always a next time.”
Jeetun Dharamjai, men’s runner-up: “I’m happy that I came out second as I was not expecting such a result. Taking second place in a Southern Region Half-Marathon is quite a good achievement.”
G. G.