Endurocad, co-founded by Olympic medallist Elana Meyer, rallies the nation to support the Zebra Tribe team as they raise much-needed funds for educating and developing young SA female athletes who carry chances of international success.<\/p>\n
Cape Town, 18 October 2024<\/em>\u2014The \u201cZebra Tribe\u201d will be back for a fourth consecutive Sanlam Cape Town Marathon next week to gallop to advance the development and performance of South Africa\u2019s future national athletes.<\/p>\n The running \u201cwing\u201d of Stellenbosch-based non-profit Endurocad, founded in 2013 by South African 10\u00a0000m Olympic silver medallist Elana Meyer and former Cape Town Marathon race director Janet Welham, the Zebra Tribe have become a welcome fixture at the Mother City\u2019s iconic race weekend, where members raise funds to help develop the country\u2019s next generation of star athletes.<\/p>\n The Zebra Tribe famously takes its name from its first Cape Town Marathon outing. Another South African running legend, Zola Budd, arrived at the start line and handed Meyer\u2014her great rival when the women were at the peak of their athletic powers\u2014and other teammates miniature zebra carvings, which they carried with them during the race.<\/p>\n The group has become known for including well-known personalities in their ranks, and this year will be no different.<\/p>\n American technology global C-suite executive and world athlete Rhonda Vetere, who has spoken at World Economic Forum gatherings in Davos in 2019, 2023, and 2024, will join Blanche Moila, the first black female South African athlete to be awarded national colours, and Meyer herself in the marathon, 10km, and 5km events.<\/p>\n Notably, 120 girls from Endurocad\u2019s ACHIEVE Pathway Programme, which uses running to develop strong, self-sufficient young women who can have a positive impact in their communities, will be taking part in the 5km race.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough the\u00a0Endurocad ACHIEVE Pathway Programme, we\u2019re empowering young people to set ambitious goals and dream big. It\u2019s about giving them the tools and confidence to realise their full potential on and off the track. When they believe in themselves, anything is possible,\u201d Meyer said.<\/p>\n The Zebra Tribe are also expected to field 20 runners in the marathon, 30 in the 10km and five in the trail running events.<\/p>\n In the 10km, the club\u2019s elite men\u2019s athletes will all be looking to run sub-29-minute times. They include Deon-Lee Hendricks\u2019 (personal best 29:02), Awethu Ntsotho (PB 29:10) and Emmanuel Fredericks (PB 29:23).<\/p>\n Philani Sengce, meanwhile, will be looking to improve on his eighth-place finish in the 46km trail run. In the women\u2019s 10km, Yandiswa Shange will aim to improve on her PB of 35:58.<\/p>\n The Cape Town Marathon has become an essential platform for Endurocad to spread its message of empowering the youth and women through sports development.<\/p>\n In addition to the ACHIEVE programme, the organisation supports the Elite Athlete Development and Educational Bursary Programme, which offers talented young athletes between the ages of 18 and 25 the opportunity to join a club and train with high-performance coaches at world-class facilities.<\/p>\n Bursaries are available for athletes to receive an academic or skills qualification as part of a holistic athlete development model. The main aim of this program is to equip athletes to compete at the highest level and have the chance to develop both their running and professional careers.<\/p>\n Endurocad also drives the Stellenbosch High School Bursary Programme, which aims to impact high school students from the broader Western Cape through education and athletics. Thanks to the backing of the primary donor Athletics, Cycling, Education (ACE) Trust, the programme includes full schooling, hostel accommodation, specialised coaching, academic tutors, and mentors.<\/p>\n These programmes have created a host of national representatives over the years. In 2023 alone, Ansume de Beer (pole vault), Beyon Prins (800m), Luke van der Merwe (high jump), and Wiaan Martin (4X 400m relay) flew the flag for South Africa at the CAA Junior and Youth Championships.<\/p>\n There have also been successes at the senior level, with Nadeel Wildschutt (World Cross Country 2024), Lisha van Onselen (World Cross Country 2024) and Lijan van Niekerk (World Trail Running Championships) all donning the green-and-gold at the international level.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has become the norm for young talented athletes to study and gain a qualification while they also focus<\/p>\n on the development of their athletic talent,\u201d Meyer said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have seen so many athletes who have come through the system who now have a degree, diploma, or another qualification, as well as athletes who have made it to the highest level, representing South Africa on the global stage. Our vision from the start was to empower the youth through education and athletics in a unique and holistic way.\u201d<\/p>\n