{"id":604,"date":"2013-04-21T08:27:18","date_gmt":"2013-04-21T08:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.globalbuzz-sa.com\/ct\/mokoka-takes-two-oceans-half"},"modified":"2013-04-21T08:27:18","modified_gmt":"2013-04-21T08:27:18","slug":"mokoka-takes-two-oceans-half","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalbuzz-sa.com\/ct\/sport\/running\/mokoka-takes-two-oceans-half\/","title":{"rendered":"Mokoka takes Two Oceans Half"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Stephen<\/a><\/p>\n

Stephen Mokoka<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Despite the gale force South Easterly winds a record of 13\u00a0765 runners enjoyed finishing the Old Mutual Two Oceans half-marathon at the University of Cape Town fields.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 6 and 6.10 starts appears to have favoured the 21,1 km participants as the wind increased in strength when they had already turned after 6 km back towards the Table Mountain range.<\/p>\n

The growing international interest reflected in the outstanding win by youthful 23 year old Ethiopian Biru Meseret Mengistu.<\/p>\n

Her outstanding winning time of 1 hour 12 minutes 43 seconds reducing the record set on the new course last year by 2 minutes 19 seconds and only 47 seconds behind the record on the old course which excluded the tough Edinburgh Drive climb after 2 km into the race.<\/p>\n

Last year\u2019s winner Rene Kalmer improved her record too by 8 seconds with 3 time bridesmaid Irvette van Blerk running a superb 62 seconds faster than last year but dropping to third.<\/p>\n

Clearly the wind was not an inhibiting factor but the emergence of another classy Ethiopian raised the level of performance to the top level on a tough course.<\/p>\n

The men ran according to form with Stephen Mokoka winning in 1 hour 3 minutes 36 seconds smashing last year\u2019s record by 78 seconds.<\/p>\n

A mere 9 seconds covered the first three with twice-winner (2010 & 2011) Lusapho April maintaining his excellent record of consistency finishing 2 nd.<\/p>\n

2012 runner-up Joel Mmone took a huge 76 seconds off his time of last year and as with Irvette van Blerk dropped from 2 nd to 3 rd.<\/p>\n

These performances would indicate a significant improvement on 2012 which is confirmed in the top 7 men all finishing below last year\u2019s winning time and record on the new course.<\/p>\n

report by Peter Wrensch<\/p>\n

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