Two trailing running pairs flew the Helderberg flag and finished on the podium of this year’s much-anticipated Thirsti AfricanX Trailrun in the Overberg from Saturday 19 to Monday 21 March.
Somerset West resident Marion Leiberich and her teammate Lijan van Niekerk from Stellenbosch, who entered the three-day stage race as The Border Collies, secured the top spot on the podium in the women’s team competition last Monday (21 March).
The trail running duo completed the three stages in a deserving combined time of 06:31:28. The stage race boasted a total combined distance of 74 km over three days, with the start and finish of each stage at the picturesque Houw Hoek Hotel outside Grabouw.
Said Leiberich after completing the final stage of the gruelling event: “Today was great; I really enjoyed the trails. It was such a beautiful view running along the ridge. I thought that the stage would be harder, but it was the most enjoyable stage.
“We worked well as a team. I really enjoy hills, so on the hills I pulled Lijan, and on the downhills I was holding on. We have different strengths and that complemented each other. We haven’t spoken about it yet, but I’d love to team up with Lijan again and come back next year.”
The men’s team category was won by Team Salomon’s Kane Reilly and Daniel Claassen, who secured their third consecutive stage victory and overall event victory, completing the three stages in a lightning-fast combined time of 05:17:33.
They were followed by Somerset West resident Lovemo Nyaude and Hakeem Smith (Team HTRCrew Goats) in second overall, boasting a time of 06:09:21.
The mixed team title was firmly secured by Team K-Way NewBalance’s Kerry-Ann Marshall and AJ Calitz in a combined time of 06:13:36.
