Results & Reports
2003
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BIGGEST DUATHLON HOSTED IN PRETORIA
By winning this year’s Energy Dynamics Powerman Duathlon in a time of 2:35:17,
Donovan van Gelder from Pinetown, KZN, not only shattered the previous record of
2:37:24 held by Clive Chowle, but also disposed of the international challenge of the
Swiss athlete, Richard Graemiger.
The Swiss, who made no secret before the race that he came to win the event, managed to
finish fourth and it was the 56km cycling course where the participants had to climb the 1.5km
uphill past the Union Buildings 5 times which enabled Donovan to make up the 19 seconds lead
that Richard had after the first 10km run as well as a two minute lead. The second 10km run
which followed after the cycling, Donovan was able to increase his lead with a further two
minutes.
This impressive performance by Donovan van Gelder was most definitely not a walk over
seeing that second placed athlete, Andrew Payne (Cape Town), finished only 38 seconds
behind Donovan, followed by 29 year old David Labuschagne from City of Tshwane in
2:38:42. Glen Gore from Vereeniging managed to finish seventh in a time of 2:46:26
after leading the first 10km run in an impressive time of 33 minutes and 39 seconds.
Just as impressive was the performance of South Africa’s Diana MacPherson, winning the
women’s section in a total time of 2:59:58 placing her 21st overall and also shattering the
course record of 3:03:10 set by Danielle Florens of Mauritius in 2001.
The Energy Dynamics Powerman Duathlon which is part of the prestigious international
series of duathlon events, is still the biggest duathlon in South Africa with more than
1 000 athletes participating became the first duathlon in South Africa and in the world
where the winners were presented with solid gold medals, sponsored by Harmony Gold
Mines.
The president of the International Powerman Duathlon Association, Mr John Raadschelders,
from the Netherlands, who attended the event, was extremely pleased with the event
organisational standard as well as the performance of the South African athletes and requested
race director, Leon Swanepoel, to forward a list of these athletes to the World Championship
Organising Committee with the intention to offer them complimentary entries to the World
Championship taking place in Zofingen, Switzerland on 7 September 2003.
“Solid Gold medals to the winners, what a terrific idea, we must definitely consider
this at all the Powerman Duathlon events world wide”, said the IPA President at the
awards ceremony in Pretoria.
ISSUED BY: SPORTSVENDO
Tel: (012) 460 9065
Email: info@sportsvendo.co.za
Webpage: www.sportsvendo.co.za
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