Record participation and standout performances made the fourth edition of the Gqeberha race its most successful yet.
Gqeberha, South Africa (29 July 2026) – More than 2,000 runners laced up their shoes and took to the streets of Gqeberha this weekend as the Bestmed Madibaz Half-Marathon enjoyed its biggest edition yet, combining fast times, first-time runners and a community celebration of fitness.
The event featured 21.1km, 10km and 5km routes, welcoming everyone from experienced athletes chasing personal bests to newcomers looking to complete their first road race.
Leading the way in the flagship half-marathon was defending champion Melikhaya Frans, who successfully retained his title with an impressive winning time of 1:04:31. The Ikhamva Athletics Club runner finished comfortably ahead of Andile Motwani, while Divan du Plooy completed the podium.
Frans was delighted to defend his title and hopes to return next year.
“It’s great news for Ikhamva and all our club sponsors to have victories in the 21.1km and 10km,” he said.
One of the biggest feel-good stories of the day came in the women’s half-marathon, where Mandela University student Abbie Mitchell produced the performance of her career. The second-year BCom Economics and Statistics student not only claimed victory but also clocked a new personal best of 1:22:56.
Mitchell admitted she wasn’t convinced she could catch three-time champion Refeloe Solomons until the closing stages of the race.
“But I was feeling good during the race and in the last kilometre I thought I could do it and I did,” she said.
Solomons praised the young runner’s performance after the race.
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Following another successful edition, organisers say the focus now shifts to building on the event’s momentum, with ambitions to continue growing participation while cementing the Madibaz Half-Marathon as one of Gqeberha’s premier road running events.
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