The Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km race that takes place in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa on March 6, 2022, is back and will now include age-group athletes. Previously the event was an invite-only race for elite athletes. However, the field size will be limited to 200.

“Last year’s event was a huge success where not only world records were set in the men’s and women’s race, but numerous Continental records and age group bests,” said Nick Bester, national team manager of the Nedbank running club and race director of the event. “We are now excited to announce that besides the elite athletes, we are welcoming qualifying age group athletes.”

Photo credit: Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km

World Athletics has provided Nedbank Runified a WA label, making the event the first ultra-marathon to earn a WA label.

“Through the hard work of the team putting all this together, it’s amazing that in only our second year, we are continuing to create history with the awarding of this label to the event,” said Bester.

Nedbank Breaking Barriers 50km has secured a three-year sponsorship from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality which underscores the high benchmark for road running that this event has set.

The race will be broadcast live on both SABC and SuperSport. “Our entries are filling up but we want to encourage the age groupers who qualify, to take this opportunity on our fast course and be part of an event that continues to set records.

Elite and age group athletes who wish to be part of the unique Nedbank Runified 50km race need to send their running resume to the NB Sport race office nbsport@lantic.net  or nickb@lantic.net. Invitations and a race voucher will be sent to competitors to enter online at easyreg.co.za website.

The various 50km records that will be the aim for many:

WBP/MixedCurrent02:59:54Linden, DesUSA26.07.1986Dorena LakeUSA 
WBP WomenCurrent03:04:24Van Zyl, IrvetteRSA05.07.1987Port ElisabethRSA  
AfricaCurrent03:04:24Van Zyl, IrvetteRSA05.07.1987Port ElisabethRSA  
AsiaInitial03:18:34Yoshida, KaoriJAP04.08.1981YubetsuJAP  
EuropeCurrent03:07:20Dixon, AlysonGBR24.09.1978BrasovROU  
North AmericaInitial03:13:51Klecker, JanisUSA18.07.1960Tallahassee, FLUSA  
OceaniaInitial03:19:12Fairweather, JackieAUS11.10.1967CanberraAUS  
South AmericaInitial03:26:11Wandscheer, IlaineBRA26.12.1978Rio GrandeBRA  
35Current03:10:27Stelmach, DominikaPOL28.02.1982Port ElisabethRSA  
40Current03:07:20Dixon, AlysonGBR24.09.1978BrasovROU  
45Current03:24:04Bosman, CharneRSA06.11.1975Port ElisabethRSA  
50Current03:41:57Petrie, LavinaGBR13.09.1943CanberraAUS  
55Current03:56:52Laws, MeghanUSA16.04.1961PhoenixUSA  
60Current04:12:55Will, NancyRSA02.10.1952Cape TownRSA  
65Current04:38:22Young, ShirleyAUS24.12.1929East BurwoodAUS  
WBPCurrent2:42:07Negasa, KetemaBekeleETH07.10.1986Port ElisabethRSA
AfricaCurrent2:42:07Negasa, KetemaBekeleETH07.10.1986Port ElisabethRSA
AsiaCurrent2:51:27Kazami, NaoJAP09.04.1983BrasovROU
EuropeCurrent2:47:42Arrospide Garro, IraitzESP05.08.1988BrasovROU
North AmericaInitial2:43:45Cox, JoshUSA09.08.1975TempeUSA
OceaniaInitial2:50:11Martelletti, PaulNZL01.08.1979BoddingtonGBR 
South AmericaInitial2:48:05Pereira da Silva, JoseBRA05.07.1974Rio GrandeBRA
35Current2.42.14Makhele, JonasRSA10.12.1981Port ElisabethRSA
40Current2:48:39Thys, GertRSA12.11.1971Cape TownRSA
45Current2.55.00Moshiywa, ClaudeRSA10.10.1974Port ElisabethRSA
50Current2:58:18Kotov, VladimirBLR21.02.1958Cape TownRSA
55Current3:17:26Perkins, OthoUSA08.03.1930WorthingtonUSA
60Current3.06.28Hughes, Tomas EdwardIRL08.01.1960LisburnGBR
65Current3:34:18Shaw, JohnAUS03.06.1953WangarattAUS