Athletics
Two Oceans success recalls glory days as the spirit of Sainsbury lives on
Chet Sainsbury would have celebrated his 84th birthday on the weekend (Sunday 12 April) and might have had a lump in his celestial throat had he looked down on proceedings at the 2026 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, powered by BYD.
The legendary sports administrator would have been delighted that his widow Annemarie, who was the first professional administrator to serve at the Two Oceans, had been invited to present the Ultra-marathon winners’ trophies to Arthur Jantjies and Gerda Steyn at the prize-giving ceremony on Saturday.
He would also have given a nod of approval to the organisational standards achieved by the Two Oceans staging partner, Stillwater Sports, in just six months.
Inviting Annemarie Sainsbury to present the trophy was one of several references to past Two Oceans memories and traditions, highlighted this year Stillwater working in conjunction with the Two Oceans Board.
The return of the Two Oceans Marathon tradition of sounding the fish horn to signal the start of the race was one example. And remembering the legendary era of Two Oceans organisational excellence under Team Sainsbury was another.
Runners who had completed ten, twenty, thirty and even forty Two Oceans ‘Voyages’ over the years enjoyed the opportunity to relive memories at the Blue Number Club dinner before the weekend. Many of those included tales of the Sainsbury days, triggered by the recognition of signs that the Oceans was returning to the days of organisational excellence which had characterised its earlier years.
Chet Sainsbury had moved seamlessly into leadership once he had ended his rugby career as a fiery loose forward for Villagers, soon becoming chairperson of the rugby club.
It was as well for athletics and road running that Sainsbury chose to represent Villagers, which club shared their Brookside grounds and facilities with Celtic Harriers, founding club for the Two Oceans Marathon.
Chet and Annemarie happened to be at the Villagers grounds at Brookside and watched Natalian Derek Preiss lead a field of 185 finishers across the line in the 1975 Two Oceans. That triggered his interest in the sport and he soon took over the reins of Celtic’s other big road race – the Peninsula Marathon.
Harold Berman, another legend of the Two Oceans who had been involved in every race since it’s inauguration in 1970 until illness kept him from this year’s event, was club secretary at Celtics at the time.
“Chet Sainsbury had excelled as Race Director of the Peninsula Marathon for two years,” Berman recalled recently. “When I heard that Chris Roux was standing down (as Two Oceans Race Director) I went to Chet and told him that he would have to take over Two Oceans.
“The administration of the Two Oceans started out in the Sainsbury’s lounge – all the papers and files were there before being moved to a pre-fabricated mobile building at Brookside.”
Chet’s wife, Annamarie, had been involved from the start as race secretary before she was appointed as Race Administrator, the first full-time Two Oceans official, and she served Two Oceans for 21 years. They made a formidable team.
A highly principled and hard-working man, Chet was not one to bend to popular demand. He did not easily tolerate fools and ensured teams under his leadership achieved excellence in all their endeavours, resulting in road running races which were seldom surpassed in organisational excellence.
Chet hand-picked a few people to strengthen the Two Oceans in key areas. Marketing, media and sponsorships required attention and Stefanie Schultzen’s remarkable skill set in those areas took the Two Oceans to new heights during her tenure.
In 2005 she delivered the powerful tag-line, ‘The World’s Most Beautiful Marathon’ and introduced the International Friendship Run in 2007, one of the event’s most successful initiatives. Later, the popular #RunAsOne and ‘Designed to Run’ campaigns, the latter as part of Cape Town’s World Design Capital season in 2014, were part of the Schultzen-Sainsbury legacy.
“In addition to the professional team, Chet led a group of outstanding volunteers on the Two Oceans committee,” Berman continued. “They respected him completely and would do almost anything for him. Once he decided to stand down, most of them also withdrew from the committee.”
Chet’s best qualities came to the fore in a crisis, and his leadership rescued the Two Oceans from disaster on more than one occasion, having to overcome gale force winds (which destroyed the substantial start and finish infrastructure), floods which threatened the integrity of the course and unseasonably hot weather at various times. No race was ever cancelled.
Each time Chet’s calm and firm direction turned around the situation which had threatened calamity.
By the time Chet Sainsbury stepped down from Oceans Directorship after the 2007 event, the 56km race had attracted almost 10 000 entries, while the half marathon, introduced in 1998, had grown to close on 8000. He had set new standards in road running administration and taken the sport to new levels.
Chet continued to take part in the Ultra-marathon and in 2013 he answered a call to stand in for a year as Acting Director, a role which extended to 2015, before Carol Vosloo was appointed in 2016.
Chet ran the first of his 32 Two Oceans Ultra-marathons at 35 in 1978 and the last in 2014 at 71, with his fastest time of 3 hr 58 min 01 sec achieved in 1987.
The launch of the “Sainsbury medal” in 2006 for runners running the 56km faster than 5 hours, reflects the esteem in which both Chet and Annemarie have been held by Two Oceans.
The post Two Oceans success recalls glory days as the spirit of Sainsbury lives on appeared first on Sports Network Africa.
Athletics
Onyah Favour Caps Breakthrough Season with First Team All-American Honors at NCAA Championships
Nigerian quarter-miler Onyah Onyinye Favour has completed a memorable 2026 collegiate campaign, earning First Team All-American honors after a season marked by personal bests, conference medals, and remarkable consistency on the track.
Sports247 reports that the talented sprinter demonstrated steady progression from the indoor season through to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, establishing herself as one of the standout 400m athletes in collegiate competition.
Onyah began the year on a strong note during the indoor campaign, capturing gold in the women’s 200 metres and silver in the 400 metres at the Southland Conference Championships.
Those performances laid the foundation for what would become a breakthrough season.
Her form continued outdoors as she lowered her personal best in the 400 metres to 52.01 seconds before producing another impressive display at the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships.
There, she won gold in the 200 metres and claimed silver in the 400 metres, setting a new lifetime best of 51.25 seconds.
The Nigerian reached another level at the NCAA East First Round, where she delivered back-to-back standout performances.
She first clocked 50.56 seconds in the heats before improving further with a brilliant 50.25-second personal best in the next round to secure qualification for the NCAA Championships.
Onyah maintained her impressive form on the national stage, running 51.00 seconds to finish third in her heat and advance to the women’s 400m final on time.
In the championship race, she placed eighth to earn First Team All-American honors, capping a season defined by determination and continuous improvement.
Reflecting on the achievement, Onyah credited her faith and perseverance for helping her overcome challenges throughout the year.
“It reminds me of the promises of God. He said He will never leave nor forsake His own. He taught me to be patient and trust in His timing. I am indeed blessed,” she said.
With multiple personal bests, conference medals, and national recognition now to her name, Onyah Favour has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most promising sprint talents.
Her outstanding 2026 campaign not only highlights her individual growth but also reinforces the increasing impact of Nigerian athletes in collegiate track and field, with even greater achievements appearing to lie ahead.
The post Onyah Favour Caps Breakthrough Season with First Team All-American Honors at NCAA Championships first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.
The post Onyah Favour Caps Breakthrough Season with First Team All-American Honors at NCAA Championships appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
Athletics
Temitope Adeshina Caps Unbeaten Season with NCAA Gold, Earns Athletic Heat’s Top Female Honour
Nigerian high jumper Temitope Adeshina has concluded a sensational 2026 campaign in emphatic fashion, capturing the women’s high jump title at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and cementing her status as one of the brightest stars in global athletics.
Sports247 reports that Adeshina cleared 1.96 metres to claim the NCAA outdoor crown, extending an unbeaten run that saw her dominate the collegiate circuit throughout the season.
Her consistency and ability to deliver under pressure have earned her recognition as Athletic Heat’s Most Outstanding Female Gold Medalist.
The victory was the latest highlight in a flawless campaign that featured triumphs across every major competition she entered.
Earlier in the year, the Nigerian secured the NCAA Indoor Championship with a clearance of 1.97 metres, demonstrating her elite credentials and setting the tone for the months that followed.
Her success also extended to conference competition, where she swept both Big 12 titles. Adeshina won the outdoor championship with a jump of 1.94 metres before returning to claim indoor gold after clearing 1.96 metres, completing a clean sweep of the season’s most prestigious collegiate honours.
The remarkable run underscores Adeshina’s rise as one of the leading high jumpers in the world. Throughout the campaign, she combined technical excellence with consistency, remaining undefeated against some of the strongest fields in collegiate athletics.
Beyond the medals and titles, her performances have further elevated Nigeria’s profile in international athletics, particularly in the field events where the country continues to produce world-class talent.
Her ability to perform on the biggest stages and maintain a high level of excellence throughout the season has made her one of the standout athletes of 2026.
As she looks ahead to future international competitions, Adeshina’s unbeaten season provides strong evidence that she is capable of challenging the world’s best beyond the collegiate ranks.
Her achievements this year have not only earned individual recognition but have also inspired confidence in her potential to bring further honours to Nigeria.
With four major titles, an undefeated record, and another NCAA gold medal to her name, Temitope Adeshina’s 2026 season will be remembered as one of the finest by a Nigerian athlete in recent collegiate history.
The post Temitope Adeshina Caps Unbeaten Season with NCAA Gold, Earns Athletic Heat’s Top Female Honour first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.
The post Temitope Adeshina Caps Unbeaten Season with NCAA Gold, Earns Athletic Heat’s Top Female Honour appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
Athletics
National Champion Osewi Salami Eyes Strong Showing at Commonwealth Games Trials After Impressive Start to 2026
Reigning Nigerian 400m hurdles champion Osewi Salami has carried his winning momentum into the 2026 athletics season, producing another encouraging campaign as he prepares for the highly anticipated Commonwealth Games Trials.
Sports247 reports that the talented hurdler opened his season in style by claiming victory at the Niger Delta Sports Festival, where he clocked a personal best of 51.60 seconds in the men’s 400m hurdles.
The performance not only marked the fastest race of his career but also reinforced his status as one of the country’s leading prospects in the event.
Salami first rose to national prominence in 2025 when he captured his maiden Nigerian title in the men’s 400m hurdles.
That breakthrough victory established him as one of the brightest emerging names in domestic athletics and set the stage for even greater expectations heading into the current season.
His latest personal best has further strengthened those expectations. As preparations intensify for the Commonwealth Games Trials, Salami currently sits as the fourth-fastest Nigerian in the event this year, placing him firmly in contention for another strong performance against the nation’s top hurdlers.
With competition expected to be fierce, the trials will provide an opportunity for the reigning champion to demonstrate that he can maintain his place among Nigeria’s elite while continuing his upward trajectory. Athletics enthusiasts will also be eager to see whether the 51.60-second performance represents the beginning of another significant leap in his development.
Despite the growing anticipation surrounding his prospects, Salami remains measured in his outlook. Asked what supporters should expect from him at the upcoming trials, the national champion offered a characteristically modest response.
“Just hoping for the best, nothing too much,” he said.
While his words may be understated, his performances have consistently spoken louder. From securing his first national title to opening 2026 with a personal best and another victory, Salami has demonstrated the resilience and consistency needed to compete at a high level.
As the Commonwealth Games Trials approach, all eyes will be on the reigning champion to see whether he can once again rise to the occasion and continue his impressive progression in one of track and field’s most demanding events.
The post National Champion Osewi Salami Eyes Strong Showing at Commonwealth Games Trials After Impressive Start to 2026 first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.
The post National Champion Osewi Salami Eyes Strong Showing at Commonwealth Games Trials After Impressive Start to 2026 appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
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