{"id":17853,"date":"2018-05-02T18:59:22","date_gmt":"2018-05-02T16:59:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/?p=17853"},"modified":"2018-05-02T18:59:22","modified_gmt":"2018-05-02T16:59:22","slug":"africanx-hat-trick-for-rukadza-and-calitz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/press-release\/africanx-hat-trick-for-rukadza-and-calitz\/","title":{"rendered":"AfricanX hat-trick for Rukadza and Calitz"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Perfect planning saw T<\/strong>eam K-Way Wintergreen<\/strong>\u2019s Bernard Rukadza and AJ Calitz claim their 3rd<\/sup> AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS title in the men\u2019s team race on Sunday, 29 April 2018.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Starting and finishing at Retreat (Boschendal Wine Estate) Stage Three of the AfricanX Trailrun pitted runners against a 20km – 22km route.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew all along that we would not be able to secure a Stage Three win as the route is too flat,\u201d says Calitz.\u00a0 \u201cBernie is fast enough on the flats, but I\u2019m not.\u00a0 We looked at the profile of each stage beforehand.\u00a0 We knew what our strengths were and knew what to expect.\u00a0 We managed to build a good gap after the first two stages.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t easy, but everything went according to plan.\u00a0 Bernie and I have raced AfricanX together three times and we\u2019ve won all three.\u00a0 We\u2019re happy with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Rukadza, AfricanX is a nice race.\u00a0 \u201cWe didn\u2019t plan to win the first stage.\u00a0 Stage Two was always our main focus.\u00a0 We were happy to win both stages though.\u00a0 Today we just wanted to protect our lead.\u00a0 AfricanX is a really nice race.\u00a0 I enjoy being here.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Teaming up with AJ is awesome.\u00a0 He\u2019s really supportive.\u00a0 We definitely want to come back next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

T<\/strong>eam K-Way Wintergreen<\/strong> completed the three days of trail running (a combined distance of +- 86km) in a combined time of 07 hours 08 minutes 07 seconds.\u00a0 Team #gearupgetout is #timetoplay\u2019s <\/strong>Lucky Miya and Thabang Madiba came in 2nd<\/sup>, while Team <\/strong>Old Mutual Wealth\u2019s<\/strong> Timothy Chambers and Jonathan Black finished 3rd<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

In the women\u2019s race T<\/strong>eam KeyHealth Neverest\/K-Way\u2019s <\/strong>Carla Van Huyssteen and Nicolette Griffioen\u2019s combined finishing time of 08 hours 36 minutes 34 seconds (after three days of running a combined distance of +- 86km) firmly secured them the top spot on the podium.<\/p>\n

According to Van Huyssteen, Stage Three\u2019s open roads did not suit their running style.\u00a0 \u201cWe just did what we could and ran as hard as we could.\u00a0 Nicolette has been amazing these past three days.\u00a0 We are really happy with the stage.\u00a0 It\u2019s the camaraderie that brings us back to AfricanX each year.\u00a0 Next year I plan to start a family, while Nicolette will most likely go on to win world champs.\u00a0 I\u2019m just really glad that we could close off our partnership in this way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe pushed a little on Stage One and really enjoyed the trails.\u00a0 This was definitely a positive change to the event.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Stage Two was long.\u00a0 On Stage Three we pushed again, just focussing on getting it done.\u00a0\u00a0 Carla and I raced our first AfricanX together in 2015.\u00a0 My focus is now on endurance racing,\u201d says Griffioen.<\/p>\n

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

In the mixed team race, Team Crumb\u2019s<\/strong> Daneil Feldmann and Davide Del Fante claimed victory in an overall combined time (after three days of racing +-86km) in 09 hours 20 minutes 38 seconds.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOur legs felt good today,\u201d confirmed Feldmann.\u00a0 \u201cWe once again just ran our own race and kept it consistent.\u00a0 The AfricanX Trailrun has an awesome vibe.\u00a0 Claiming the mixed team title is amazing.\u00a0 It\u2019s really cool to do that with my partner.\u00a0 It\u2019s just amazing to be able to socialize and do sport at the same time.\u00a0 I\u2019ve wanted to take part in AfricanX for quite some time.\u00a0 Winning is just an added bonus.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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

The three routes were planned in such a way that the runners were treated to a different breath-taking scenic route each day.<\/p>\n

STAGE ONE<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 <\/strong>Friday, 27 April 2018<\/p>\n