13 March 2018

Greyling Comes Out on Top at the 3222 Stage Trail Run

Submitted by: Viv Quann
Greyling Comes Out on Top at the 3222 Stage Trail Run

Greyling Comes Out on Top at the 3222 Stage Trail Run LESOTHO, - This past weekend, top South African trail runner, Christiaan Greyling (Jeep Team SA / Salomon / Garmin), claimed a double stage win at the inaugural 3222 Stage Trail Run in Lesotho.

Far from just another trail run, the 3222 was designed to leave lungs burning and feet heavy as determined athletes tackled the Maluti-Drakensberg mountain landscape. At 3222m above sea level, the 3222 Stage Trail Run is one of the highest altitude trail runs in Southern Africa.

The full distance race covered at total of 40km - 25km on Day 1 and 15km on Day 2 - across technical rocky terrain with steep ascents and descents. The Mini 3222 covered just 16km - 10km on Day 1 and 6km on Day 2. Despite the short distance, the race offered some challenging ascents on both jeep and single-track. Greyling, winner of the 2017 Giant’s Cup Uncut 62km and 2016 SkyRun 100km, is no stranger to running at altitude and showed his running pedigree to finish the 25km route in 02h36m12s, 11 minutes ahead of Ruan van der Merwe in second and Thabang Madiba in third. On Day 2, Greyling once again came out on top, but with van der Merwe hot on his heels. Greyling finished the 15km stage in 01h44m49s, with van der Merwe just one minute behind him. Finishing off the top 3, was Madiba in a time of 01h48m28s. Greyling finished the weekend with a double stage win and the overall ‘3222’ title.

Says Greyling, “Mountains, valleys, wild horses and mud! I love brutal, technical trails in remote places and this is exactly what Afriski and Trail Adventure presented at the 3222 Stage Trail Run. At over 3000m above sea level, it was a weekend of mountain running at its best!” In the women’s race, Nicky Booysens, the 2015 Skyrunner Series Women’s Champion, also claimed a double stage win, finishing with an overall time of 05h55m53s; in second was Tumi Matlou in 06h31m23s, and Carina Janse van Rensburg completed the top 3 with an overall time of 06h42m39s. 

RESULTS – 3222 Stage Trail Run

MenDay 1 - 25kmDay 2 - 15kmTotal Race Time
1. Christiaan Greyling 02:36:12 01:44:49 04:21:01
2. Ruan van der Merwe 02:47:51 01:45:49 04:33:40
Thabang Madiba 03:00:31 01:48:28 04:48:59

 

WomenDay 1 - 25kmDay 2 - 15kmTotal Race Time
Nicky Booyens 03:38:25 02:17:28 05:55:53
Tumi Matlou 03:57:12 02:34:11 06:31:23
Carina Janse Van Rensburg 04:08:36 02:34:03 06:42:39

Other Jeep Team News Obstacle Racing:THOMAS VAN TONDER – SOUTH AFRICA’S UNDISPUTED ‘BEAST’ CHAMPION WITH 14 STRAIGHT WINS MULDERSDRIFT, GAUTENG, 12 MARCH 2018 - Top South African OCR athlete, Thomas van Tonder (Jeep Team), continues to live up to his nickname, ‘#BeastMode’, by becoming the sole winner of all fourteen Savage Beast OCR titles. The event, which took place on 3 March 2018, saw 131 athletes descended upon The Wedge 4×4 Trail in Muldersdrift for the first Beast Challenge Obstacle Course Race of the year. Along with 29 other competitors, van Tonder took on the day’s toughest elite race – the 12km, 50-obstacle Savage Beast Race, where he once again became the only athlete to win all the Beast OCR races.  Van Tonder finished his race in 01:11:06, just over 9 minutes ahead of the second-placed Willem Erasmus in 01:20:16, and Egor Oussov in third with a time of 01:30:51. 

Says van Tonder, “It was another epic day at the OCR office. I am so blessed to be able to do what I do, especially also taking 14 wins in a row for The Beast OCR series. Well done to everyone who competed, and kudos to the Beast organisers for another solid event.” In the women’s elite race, first place went to Cindy Wills in a time of 01:36:13; second was Sam Gilchrist in 01:38:56 and rounding off the podium was Mandie Landsberg with a time of 01:40:56.Written and Distributed by Hot Salsa Media on behalf of Jeep Team SAAll enquiries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 084 486 2136 Thank you.   

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Published in Sports Range