DELIWE Nyanga triumphed in the Walmer Frans van Heusden 15km race on Saturday, winning the senior ladies section in 57:24 from Elene Lourens and veteran Celeste Swart. National athlete Lusapho April won the men’s section in 45:03, with Rodney Prins second and Masixole Dlaku third.

The race attracted just under 600 entries and was named in honour of Van Huesden, an ex-athletics administrator, who tragically died in a motorcycle accident earlier this year.

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THE organisers of the Comrades marathon announced last week that an additional 2000 places were up for grabs for next year’s edition. These entries will open on Saturday, January 30 and will only be accepted at Mr Price stores countrywide. Entries will close as soon as 2000 entries have been received.

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THE IAAF Diamond League was launched in Monaco last week, with top athletes Usain Bolt, Kenenisa Bekele and Yelena Isinbayeva named as three of the nine ambassadors. The league comprises 14 meetings spread across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States, and will showcase 32 athletics disciplines which have been carefully distributed among the meetings.

In each discipline there will be an “IAAF Diamond Race”, with points available throughout the season. The winners of each Diamond Race receive a Diamond Trophy which will include four carats of diamonds.

Starting next year, the IAAF Diamond League will offer more athletes more earning opportunities, with prize money totaling $6,63-million (R49-million). The competition will run from mid-May to the end of August and promises “head to head” confrontations between the world’s best on a regular basis in each of the disciplines.

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ONLINE entries are now open for next year’s edition of the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, which takes place on Easter Saturday, April 3. The qualifying period is between September 1 this year and March 3 next year. Entries close on March 3 or when 11000 entries for each distance are reached – whichever comes first. Participants are encouraged to enter online at www.twooceansmarathon.org.za but can also pick up entry forms from leading sports shops and running clubs countrywide.

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THE Achilles Toy Run will be run tonight – the start is at 5.15pm for 5.30pm – from the Old Grey Sports Club in Lennox Street. There is no entry fee, but athletes are encouraged to bring along a toy and an old T-shirt. The toy will be donated to The Tree of Joy project, while old T-shirts will be donated to the Bread of Life project.

Refreshments and boerewors rolls will be on sale after the run. More details are available from Paulette on 083-657 1491.

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CRUSADERS Athletic Club will stage the Aspen Pharmacare Port Elizabeth City Marathon and 10km road races at Lorraine Primary School this Saturday. Entry fees are R50 for the marathon and R20 for the 10km race. Entry forms are available at leading sports shops in Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage, with entries closing tomorrow. The first 450 entrants in the marathon and first 150 entrants in the 10km races will receive goodie bags. More details are available from Colin McAll on 041- 3730407 and Graham Elbourne on 041-4072854.