Healthy employees take to the streets
ILLOVO – Thousands of participants took part in the largest after-work employee race event in the world.
The largest after-work employee race event in the world took place in Illovo on 28 March.
The Johannesburg leg of the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge series once again set the pace with 14 000 corporate health enthusiasts participating in the run. As the largest after-work employee event in the world, each year hundreds of participating companies use the event as a platform to promote health and fitness in the workplace and to foster goodwill and camaraderie among their colleagues and friends.
This year both the Johannesburg and Singapore races celebrated their 16th consecutive year running. The Singapore event took place just a few hours prior to Johannesburg, and runners took on the challenge to compete for the title of the fastest time between the two dynamic cities.
The Johannesburg runners and walkers enjoyed a cool autumn evening through one of the city’s most scenic neighbourhoods for a good cause, managing to beat the winning Singapore times.
In Johannesburg representing Implats, Samuel Matsepe was the first man to cross the finish line in a time of 17:25. The first woman, representing Investec, Mia Morrison crossed the line in 21:08.
The corporate challenge strives to make a difference through a donation to a non-profit organisation in each host city. The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa was the selected beneficiary for the sixth consecutive year.
The race also attracted South African entertainment icons and sporting greats such as Cynthia Tshaka, Natalie du Toit, Dean Furman, Morne du Plessis, Lunga Shabalala, John Smit and Butch James showing their support of the Laureus Foundation.
Participants were treated to an exclusive post-race performance by gold album selling, South African songwriter, producer and DJ, Timo ODV. After the race, there was plenty of time for participants to do some networking in a fun and relaxed environment.
The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Championship will be held in San Francisco in September. Johannesburg’s Implats for the men’s team, Sibanye Stillwater for the women’s team and Investec for the mixed team have been invited to compete against winners from 12 other corporate challenge cities to determine the fastest corporate teams of the series.
The series began in 1977 in Central Park, New York with 200 runners from 50 companies, and has been conducted every year since, growing into a 13-city, seven-country, five-continent global event.
Top 5 men results:
1. Samuel Matsepe (17:25) – Implats
2. Jeremia Moshwetsi (17:28) – Implats
3. Edward Mothibi (17:34) – Implats
4. Thabiso Benedict Moeng (17:45) – Transnet Engineering
5. Andile Hlebo (17:56) – SC Johnson.
Top 5 women results:
1. Mia Morrison (21:08) – Investec
2. Mamotheba Anna Moeketsi (22:02) – Transnet Engineering
3. Thozama Sylvia Godongwana (22:19) – Transnet Engineering
4. Trumari Marais (22:54) – Ernst and Young
5. Josie Jansen (23:13) – Standard Bank.
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