Monday, 21 November 2011 17:58
Kalmer shines in Yokohama
Rene Kalmer became the fourth fastest South African woman’s marathon runner on Sunday when she dipped under the magic two hour and 30 minute mark.
Rene, who is also a Nedbank brand ambassador, took on a very competitive field in the Yokohama Marathon and finished fifth in a time of two hours 29 minutes and 59 seconds.
‘I am walking on air and I’m very happy with my time and position in the race. I had to force myself to start slowly and ran an even paced race. I was in 20th position at one stage in the race and just kept on passing runners all the way as the going got tougher,’ said Kalmer.
‘The race only started at 12h00 pm and the temperature climbed to 24 degrees with a high humidity as well and that made things very hard to cope with,’ she added.
This is the second time in four months that Rene has run an Olympic qualifying time for the marathon.
The Yokohama Marathon was won by Ryoko Kizaki (26) who triumphed in a toe-to-heel battle with fellow Japanese runner Yoshimi Ozaki. Kizaki was a few seconds behind Ozaki after passing the 40km point but caught up over 600m and held on to the lead crossing the line in two hours, 26 minutes and 32 seconds.
Ozaki was second in 2:26:49, followed by Mara Yamauchi of Britain third in 2:27:24.
‘We are very glad that we could support this fantastic South African and Olympic prospect in her running career and know that Rene will still come up with greater performances in future for the Nedbank Green Dream Team,’ said Nick Bester, National Manager of the Nedbank Running Club.
Only Elana Meyer (6 times), Colleen de Reuck (7) & Frith van der Merwe (1) have dipped under 2:30
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