SITYHILO DIKO made it two in row when he won the 27 for Freedom Race in rainy conditions last Saturday. He ran the 27 km in a time of 1:27:23.

His time was a new course record, improving last year’s winning time of one hour and twenty nine minutes.

He snatched victory from Wanda Roro of Khayelitsha, who had been leading from around the 6 km mark by overtaking him in the last stretch of the race run to commemorate Nelson Mandela’s release from prison on this day in 1990.

Roro, of Itheko, ended third, with Mtnandazo Qhena of Nedbank Running Club taking secnond place.

Diko said the race was part of his training programme for the Two Oceans Marathon.

“It’s a great honour to win this race as it is held in honour of Nelson Mandela. I wasn’t worried when I was trailing behind Wanda because I knew from experience that I would eventually overtake him,” he said.

Diko was overjoyed to have bettered last year’s record: “It was a good race for me,” he said.

Qhena said he does not enjoy running in the rain: “This was not a good race for me.”

Roro said he had been expecting a good time: “I expected to win, but I got bogged down in the sandy part of the race. That’s when I was overtaken. I’m not disappointed at all.”

The first woman home was Bulelwa Simaye who won in 1:55:39. She was followed over the finishing line by Darrette Smit in 1:55:14 and Jaquiline Haasbroek 1:57:03.

The results of the 10 km: (men): 1. Khosinathi Madyo 31:54, 2. Victor Msopi 32:14 and 3. Enrico Roy 32:15. (women) 1. Zintle Xiniwe (Mr Price), 2. Mariette Esterhuizen (Tygerberg) and 3. Janeta de Souza (Celtic).