Top veteran runners Derrick Baard and Noel Ernstzen of Team Hammer Nutrition surprised everyone, including themselves, on day 2 of the Southern Cross 3-Day Trail event when they took the lead with less than a kilometre to go, taking the stage in 2:38:50.
Lucky Miya and Johannes Mthimkulu of Team Saucony were second again, finishing in 2:39:28, having lead the race from the 8km mark. Dion Middlekoop and partner Bernard Rakadaz had to settle for third in 2:42:22.
Day 1 started and finished at the Millwood Goldfields Museum deep in the Knysna Forest and saw over 300 runners traverse 30km of beautiful forest trails on a chilly, clear morning. Team Contego set the pace and was first to the kings of the mountain hot spot, with Team Saucony hot on their heels and Team Hammer Nutrition a few minutes behind.
Things changed radically at the 8km mark when Team Saucony took the lead and opened up a four minute lead on Team Contego. At the water station at 24km Team Saucony looked like they had the race in the bag.
Team Hammer Nutrition finished extremely strong, passing Team Contego shortly after the 24km mark and then Team Saucony up the last climb who were walking because of cramp.
Said Ernstzen: “I had to dig deep to stay with Derrick today who was flying. If he hadn’t had to drag me around the trails he would have finished an hour ahead of everyone. We started out conservatively and it paid off in the end.”
Landie Greyling and her partner Su Don Wouchope from Team Trail Queens dominated the women’s event from start to finish again, finishing 3:07:14 and also winning the queens of the mountain. “We could feel day 1 in our legs so we held back in the second half to keep something in reserve for day 3.”
First across the line in the solo event was Lenko Ramonthello in 2:53:44. Ramonthello took a wrong turn on day 1, which cost him a podium position. Veteran runner Jacqueline Haasbrook was the first woman solo runner in 3:07:14. Team Hammer Nutrition consisting of Caitlin Lewis and Cobus van den Berg was the first mixed team in 3:14:15.
Said race organiser Hano Otto: “Day 3 promises to be exciting with the top three teams all in contention to win the stage.” This third stage starts above Victoria Bay and is a 20km trail along the coastal cliffs, that includes an old railway line through various tunnels, some boardwalks and a bit of beach running, finishing at the event’s base camp at Ebb and Flow in the Wilderness.
This year’s afb Southern Cross 3-day trail event from 9 to 11 August offers runners three unique routes starting with a mountain stage on day 1 in the Outeniqua Mountains, beautiful trails through indigenous forest on day 2 and finishing off with rugged coastline run on day 3.
image credit: Jeff Ayliffe
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