Over 1,500 runners laced up for the third edition of the BayRun with Discovery Vitality on Saturday, braving the windy conditions for a day filled with energy, competition, and community spirit.
The event, hosted at Cape Recife High School fields, turned into a sea of pink as Discovery Vitality branding lined the start and finish chutes. Runners of all levels — from casual walkers to competitive athletes — were treated to a festive atmosphere, complete with Virgin Active’s fun warm-down zone, exciting lucky draw prizes, and hospitality for Team Vitality members.
Race director Jonathan Mundell of host club 32Gi praised the support from the running community:
“We want to thank the running community for their continued loyal support this year. From beginner walkers to those chasing personal bests, this event caters for everyone. The only way to achieve success is with a committed team, and the 32Gi club pulled together to deliver an incredible event. Special thanks to Discovery Vitality and our prize sponsors. We look forward to an even bigger turnout next year.”
Winners and Highlights
The Nedbank Running Club dominated the day, securing victories across multiple races:
- 21km Men: Andile Motwana took first place in 1:09:19, improving on his second-place finish in 2024.
- 21km Women: Refeloe Solomons defended her title in 1:27:12, improving her time by 16 seconds.
- 10km Men: A clean sweep with Sibahle Maqwara (33:00) in first, followed by Zolani Mabongo (34:23) and Asonge Mthana (34:56).
Other strong performances included:
- 21km Men: Ross Barnard (Hollywood Athletics) finished second in 1:09:48, and Khaya Gqwetha (Vukani Multi Sport) came third in 1:14:17.
- 21km Women: Leigh Callaghan (Achilles Athletics) placed second in 1:27:32, with Abbie Mitchell (Madibaz) third in 1:31:12.
- 10km Women: Bianca Meistre (32Gi Running Club) clocked 39:42 to win her category, ahead of last year’s winner Ntombesintu Mfunzi (Nedbank, 41:28) and Lindi Georgiou (Body Concept, 41:30).
- 5km Winners: Sizwe Khumalo (Madibaz) won in 19:34, with fellow Madibaz runner Kirsty Weir taking the women’s title.
The BayRun once again proved why it is a highlight on the Nelson Mandela Bay running calendar — bringing together fitness, fun, and friendly competition.
Captions:
- Nedbank Running Club had a winning streak on Saturday, scooping the top men’s and women’s 21km prizes, the top three men in the 10km, and the second woman in the 10km. BayRun 21km winner Andile Motwana powered home in 1:09:19.
- Refeloe Solomons of Nedbank Running Club defended her title as first woman in the 21km BayRun with Discovery Vitality, finishing in 1:27:12.
Photo credit: Richard Pearce Photography
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