A beautiful wind-still morning descended over Century City as just over 4 100 runners and walkers and runners prepared themselves for one of Cape Town’s most popular annual races. The Century City 10km Express with Discovery Vitality and 5km Fun Run started with a bang at 7:00, the flat run across a diverse course meandered through the precinct from just beyond Intaka Island, past the kilometres of canals, through Ratanga Park, with the finish in Central Park.
Last year’s 10km winner, William Kaptein from Tymebank Langa, did it again, improving his time by 38 seconds at a speedy 29:00. Hot on his heels were Ashley Smith from Nedbank at 29:13 and Anthony Timoteus from Athlete Academy at 29:33. All three these times were faster than Kaptein’s 2024 result.
First 10km lady was Marion Leiberich (no Club) finishing at 35:42. Marie-Tinka Olivier from Tymebank Langa finished second with a time of 36:35 and Nicola Willis from Boxer AC short on her heels with 36:41.
Duane Fortuin from Tymebank Langa won the male’s 40-49 group with 31:37, with Nomvuyisi Seti from Khayalitsha AC doing it for the ladies at 41:00.
Tsungai Mwanengeni from RSC Gugulethu SC was the first in the 50-59 age category with a blazing time of 34:27 and one of the race’s regulars, Eric Coetzee (no Club), kicked up some serious dust in the 60-69 category with a finishing time of 38:19. The ladies’ winner in the 50-59 was a multiple Century City 10km champion, Obertina Kanyongo with a time of 42:18, improving on last years’ time.
The fastest Junior male was Leon Lumbemba from Totalsports VOB, finishing at 35:33, and lady was Tamia Gladden and Pinelands AC with a time of 44:45. The winner in the 70+ category was Brian Collier from Atlantic AC finishing with a great time of 51:37 and Nancy Will from Pinelands AC with a time of 52:10.
In the 5km Fun Run, Zion Hartnick from Brimstone Itheko Sport Acp ran a blazing 18:24 with the first lady over the line being Tara Darge with a time of 19:13.
A highlight of the race was when 90-year old Caspar Greeff crossed the finish line at 1:58:34. Caspar is a living legend on the South African running scene. He was a founding member of Rand Athletic Club (RAC) and ran his first Comrades at the age of 34, ending up with 38 finishes. He’s also the only person to have run a silver Comrades in his 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. Had he not delayed his running career until his mid-30s, not doubt he would have boasted a five-decade history of Comrades silvers.
Caspar also has a distinguished Two Oceans career which started with a silver medal in 1976, includes 28 ultra finishes, category wins in the masters (over 50), grandmasters (over 60) and great grandmasters (over 70).
He is unique amongst octogenarian athletes, most of them start running very late in life and therefore have the benefit of running on “fresh legs” and he has been running marathons for fifty years.*
For all the results, visit here.
“It was a fantastic turn-out once again,” says Marinus Boshoff, CEO of Century City Property Owners’ Association (CCPOA). “We hope that all the runners, walkers and supporters thoroughly enjoyed this electrifying morning with us.”
“We wish to thank all our fantastic sponsors, without whom we would not be able to host this popular annual event. We would also like to wish all the teams and people behind the scenes, from our internal team who worked tirelessly, and all the volunteers who made this day a great success.”
The Century City 10km Express with Discovery Vitality and 5km Fun Run was sponsored by:
Discovery Vitality
Asics
Alison Thomson Physiotherapists
Century City Hotels
Island club
Sportsman’s Warehouse
Body and Soul Wellness
Coffee Wellness
Quadcare
Canal Walk
Tiger’s Milk
Bootlegger Coffee Company
Urban Umami
La Parada
Gusto Urban Italia
Bricklane Eatery
The Galileo Open Air Cinema
Coca Cola Peninsula Beverages
Securitas
Century City Athletics Club
Intaka Island
Century City Property Owners’ Association
*Source: https://runningmann.co.za/2019/09/27/great-caspar-greeff/