08/06/2014
Coolboy Ngamole and Ntombesintu Mfunzi made history when they became the South Africa’s wings for life world run champions
In Franschhoek, Sunday 4 May 2014 a very unique Road Race took place.
Athletes in South Africa had to run a race staying ahead of a car which travelled at 15 km/hour.
At 12:00pm SAST, hundreds of runners of all ages and abilities set out from Boschendal Wine Estate in Franschhoek, the South African venue of this very unique event.
A total of 35 397 runners in 32 countries started at precisely the same time, racing ahead of a catcher car instead of towards a finish line.
Staying ahead of the catcher car for 59.84 kms, 35 year-old marathon runner Coolboy Ngamole is the South African winner of the very first Wings for Life World Run. He ranked sixth in the global men’s race, beating thousands of runners participating around the world.
South African women’s race winner Ntombesintu Mfunzi was third in the world. She ran 47.57 kms before the catcher car eliminated her. “This race was a very new experience and I was happy to be running alone at the front – I was very comfortable.
I unfortunately started cramping at around 52kms, but I tried to maintain my pace and go as fast as I could,” said Ngamole.
Knowing I was running for people who can’t, and not just myself, made the experience so worthwhile,” said Mfunzi.
The global Wings for Life World Run men’s winner was Lemawork Ketema from Ethopia who competed in Donautal, Austria.
He ran a total of 78,57km. Norwegian Elise Selvikvag Molvik who ran in Stavanger, Norway is the global women’s winner, completing 54,79km.
This initiative was part of an international campaign to raise awareness for traumatic spinal cord injuries.
Founded by former two-time Motocross World Champion Heinz Kinigadner and Red Bull Founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2004, the Wings for Life Foundation aim to find a cure for traumatic spinal cord injuries.
The foundation enables the implementation of important research projects by providing targeted financial support.
Founded by former two-time Motocross World Champion Heinz Kinigadner and Red Bull Founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2004, the Wings for Life Foundation aim to find a cure for traumatic spinal cord injuries.
The foundation enables the implementation of important research projects by providing targeted financial support. To find out more about the Wings for Life Foundation, visit www.wingsforlife.com/en.
Raising over three million Euro, 100% of entry fees from all races goes towards funding research to help find a cure for spinal cord injury.
South African Ambassadors Ryan Sandes (ultra-trail runner), Hlubi Mboya (actress) and Vanessa Haywood (actress) ran the World Run with the local participants. Ambassador Pieter du Preez (C6 quadriplegic athlete) was on hand to fire the starter’s gun.
Internationally, F1 drivers David Coulthard and Sebastian Vettel, Olympian alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, All Black Dan Carter and NFL star Reggie Bush all ran for those who can’t.
Quote from Wings for Life World Run Ambassador: Hlubi Mboya “It is such a great initiative and I was honoured to be one of the people all over the world running. What was most inspirational for me was hearing people’s stories – some of which will stay with me forever. It was my first road run ever! I wasn’t sure I could even do 10kms and I ended up pushing myself and did 15km. I loved the venue.“ Quote from Wings for Life World Run Ambassador: Pieter du Preez “It was really special to be able to start the race here in South Africa and super exciting. What was so unique was every single person who ran today made history! It was really exciting to watch the global feed and see all the location and who it connect the whole world. Usually the bulk of the field are still out on the road when the winners come in and it was awesome that this time it was the other way around. Everyone was waiting for the winners to come in to celebrate their wins with them. It was such an honour to be a part of the Wings for Life World Run and see so many people around the world support such an amazing cause. I really hope I’ll be able to take part in 2015!”
Bolandathletics.com, athletics Boland
