New Records Set at the 2013 Bestmed Tuks Race
Johannesburg: 16 February 2012:The Bestmed Tuks Race 21km title defending champion,Stephen Mokoka, who completed the racein breaking record last year, managed to win this year’s race in 66minutes.
“This is my third time competing in the Bestmed Tuks Race. I have won the 10km race previously and again I came out top this year in the 21km,” says Mokoka, Bestmed Tuks Race 21km second year champion.
Irvette van Zyl, the winner of the 2012 Spar 10km women’s race claimed her first Bestmed Tuks Race 2013 21km championship and aims to add to this achievement by winning more races this year.
Van Zyl crossed the finishing line in 77 minutes. “It was a competitive race and I knew that the participants worked hard in training for this event. For me, today’s race was not about breaking the record, but rather about building my on my mileages in preparation for the upcoming marathon in April,”says the thrilled Van Zyl.
“We’d like to congratulate all those who participated and completed the various races. The tremendous turnout demonstrates the growing awareness of the importance to keep active to lead a healthy life. Our sponsorship is one of the ways that we show our commitment to wellness and preventative healthcare,” says Bestmed’s Executive Head: Sales, Marketing and Distribution, Alan Fritz.
The 10km runner, KgotsiTsosane, broke the record after completing his race in 29.16 minutes. Tsosane who recently won the McCarthy race, said “This is my first time competing in the Bestmed Tuks Race and I am thrilled that I have set a new record.”
Lebo Phalula who won the 10km in 33.34 minutes commented,“I am glad I have won considering that I only decided to enter last night. The journey doesn’t end here. I am determined to do even better as I prepare for the top 20 world cross country championship in Poland this year.”
The Bestmed Tuks Race comprised 21km, 10km, 5km and 1km race distances. Musa Eugene Maluleke won the male 5km race in 16.44 minutes.
Over 13 000 runners, including top athletes and social runners took to the streets of Pretoria on Saturday morning. Among the social participants were Olympic athlete, LJ Van Zyl who completed the 5km race, Professor de la Rey who participated in the 10km race and Alan Fritz of Bestmed who walked 5km.
“We are grateful to Bestmed for their sponsorship of this event over the last three years, as their involvement has enabled this race to become one of South Africa’s sought after road running events,and we look forward to an even better race next year” says Professor Gloudien Spies of University of Pretoria.
Ends
About Bestmed
With 49 years of experience under its belt and delivering healthcare benefits to more than 154,000 beneficiaries throughout South Africa, Bestmed is one of the oldest and most established medical schemes in South Africa and trusted as the scheme of choice to access quality healthcare. Bestmed now provides medical benefits to second–generation dependants who have opted to become principal members. Bestmed is based in Pretoria and has representation in most of the country’s provinces. The scheme has nine benefit options that serve the total healthcare market.
Issued on behalf of Bestmed
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