{"id":17790,"date":"2018-05-02T18:56:59","date_gmt":"2018-05-02T16:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/?p=17790"},"modified":"2018-05-02T18:56:59","modified_gmt":"2018-05-02T16:56:59","slug":"trail-runners-throw-down-the-gauntlet-at-stage-one-of-the-africanx-trailrun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/press-release\/trail-runners-throw-down-the-gauntlet-at-stage-one-of-the-africanx-trailrun\/","title":{"rendered":"Trail runners throw down the gauntlet at Stage One of the AfricanX Trailrun"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cLet Nature Give You A Run For Your Money\u201d
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Team K-Way Wintergreen\u2019s<\/strong> Bernard Rukadza and AJ Calitz dominated Stage One of the 10th<\/sup> annual AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS at Jonkershoek on Friday, 27 April 2018.<\/p>\n

Running their 3rd<\/sup> AfricanX Trailrun together as a team, Rukadza and Calitz completed the 33km Stage in a well-deserved time of 02 hours 45 minutes 44 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe stage was awesome,\u201d said a very happy Rukadza .\u00a0 \u201cOur plan was to sit with the guys until the top of a big hill and then make our move.\u00a0 That is what we did.\u00a0 This is the third time that AJ and I team up for AfricanX.\u00a0 He\u2019s a great guy.\u00a0\u00a0 We understand and learn a lot from each other.\u00a0 I really enjoy running with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe game plan was always to keep up with Bernie,\u201d laughs Calitz.\u00a0 \u201cEverything went according to plan.\u00a0 We didn\u2019t plan to win the stage though.\u00a0 I\u2019ve always said that the winners of Stage One never win the race.\u00a0 I hope I\u2019m wrong this time round.\u00a0 We took it relatively easy today, so we\u2019re happy going into Stage Two.\u00a0 It\u2019s great to be back in the mix again in the men\u2019s race.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team <\/strong>#gearupgetout is #timetoplay\u2019s <\/strong>Lucky Miya and Thabang Madiba came in 2nd<\/sup>, while Team Edunova\u2019s Ben Matiso and Retshipile Khotla finished 3rd.<\/p>\n

Nicolette Griffioen and Carla Van Huyssteen of Team KeyHealth Neverest \/ K-Way <\/strong>crossed the finish line first in the women\u2019s race in a time of 03 hours 25 minutes 31 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thoroughly enjoyed today\u2019s stage,\u201d says Griffioen.\u00a0 \u201cThere was more single track than in previous years.\u00a0 I commend the event organisers on the venue change. \u00a0\u00a0Unfortunately Carla didn\u2019t feel well today.\u00a0 We just kept pushing and hoped that we could hold onto the lead.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see what tomorrow holds.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Van Huyssteen, the trails were amazing. \u201cStage One was a nice, technical trail run.\u00a0 I battled today though, feeling nauseas from the start.\u00a0 As a result I just didn\u2019t have the climbing legs.\u00a0 I am ready to fight another day though.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team Rehidrat\u2019s Chantel Nienaber and Katya Soggot came in 2nd<\/sup>, while Team Tailwind Ladies\u2019 Kate Mapham and Danette Smith finished 3rd<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The mixed team race was won by Team Crumb\u2019s<\/strong> Daneil Feldmann and Davide del Fante in a time of 03 hours 40 minutes 40 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first AfricanX,\u201d admits a very happy Feldmann.\u00a0 \u201cWe met last year when Davide was looking for a running partner to take on AfricanX.\u00a0 We didn\u2019t take part that year though. We are now partners.\u00a0 Being able to take part together is really special.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe views were amazing today and the weather was perfect,\u201d says del Fante.\u00a0 \u201cWe wanted to do well at AfricanX.\u00a0 Today everything went according to plan.\u00a0 We ran our own race and kept it steady.\u00a0 We\u2019ll do the same tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team Gauteng Diesel Engines\u2019 Takalani and Mazu Ndandani came in 2nd<\/sup>, while Team ATS\u2019 Leani Grimes and Jacques Buys finished 3rd<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The AfricanX Trailrun requires teams of two runners (male\/female\/mixed) to battle it out on a route that varies in distance between 20km – 36km each day.\u00a0 Teamwork and endurance is put to the test.<\/p>\n

EVENT INFORMATION<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 2018 AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS<\/strong><\/p>\n

STAGE TWO \/ DRESS UP DAY<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 <\/strong>Saturday, 28 April 2018<\/p>\n