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
AFN President Tonobok Okowa Lauds Introduction Of Ben Aghazu Cash Prizes Ahead Of National Athletics Trials
The president of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa has lauded the introduction of Ben Aghazu Prize for Excellence ahead of the forthcoming national trisls in Lagos.
Sports247 reports that Okowa also showered encomiums on AFN’s second vice-president, Akuchukwu Chineze Aghazu for floating the elaborate cash prizes in honour of her late father, Ben Aghazu.
It was further gathered that, under the scheme, outstanding athletes will get N100,000 each for achieving performance standards in 14 events during the natuonal trials holding from June 20th to 22th at Yaba College ofTechnology, Lagos.
Aghazu also announced that two exceptional coaches, one male and a female, have already been selected to receive the athletics excellence award for tacticians in various track and field events.
In reaction to the development, Okowa expressed delight with the initiative, which he described as a commendable gesture that will inspire athletes to put in extra efforts towards getting better results during the trials.
Okowa declared, “I am excited by this thoughtful initiative from our second vice-president, Aku Aghazu. This is the kind of support that motivates our home-based athletes to give their very best during these all-important Commonwealth Games Trials.”
Okowa, who is also the senior vice-president of Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), used the opportunity to call on corporate organisations and philanthropists to support athletics and invest in the country’s sporting talents.
“We appeal to individuals, corporate bodies and stakeholders in the private sector to throw their weight behind athletics and our athletes. There is enormous talent in Nigeria and with the right support, our athletes can continue to make the nation proud on the global stage,” Okowa solicited.
AFN’s media committee chairman, Maxwell Kumoye added in a press statement, “The Ben Aghazu Prize for Excellence in Athletics covers the men’s and women’s 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m and 5000m, as well as the long jump and javelin events.
“To earn the N100,000 reward in the men’s 100m, an athlete must clock 10.10 seconds, while the women’s benchmark is 11.20 seconds.
“In the 200m, male athletes must run 20.60 seconds, while female athletes are required to achieve 22.70 seconds. The qualifying standards for the 400m are 45.30 seconds for men and 51.00 seconds for women.
“For the 1500m, athletes must run 3:50.00 for men and 4:20.00 for women to claim the prize, while the 5000m standards have been fixed at 14:00.00 for men and 17:50.00 for women.
“Field event athletes have also been included in the incentive package. Male long jumpers must soar to 7.90 metres, while female athletes are expected to reach 6.50 metres. In the javelin throw, the targets are 81 metres for men and 55 metres for women.
“Should athletes meet the required marks across all 14 events, a total of N1.6 million could be disbursed during the three-day competition, (ahead of which) the scheme sends a powerful message that outstanding performances will be recognised and celebrated.”
Sports247 gathered further that, with the Commonwealth Games trials fast approaching, athletes now have an added incentive to produce world-class performances with Aghazu’s gesture, which honours the legacy of her late father.
The post AFN President Tonobok Okowa Lauds Introduction Of Ben Aghazu Cash Prizes Ahead Of National Athletics Trials first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.
The post AFN President Tonobok Okowa Lauds Introduction Of Ben Aghazu Cash Prizes Ahead Of National Athletics Trials appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
Athletics
Bukola Olopade Prioritises Athlete Welfare While Targeting 20 Medals At Commonwealth Games
Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has stressed that athlete welfare and proper preparation will remain central to Team Nigeria’s ambitions ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
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Speaking during a strategic meeting with sports federation executives and technical officials in Abuja, Olopade revealed that the Commission is determined to provide athletes with the right environment and support needed to compete successfully.
“Athlete welfare remains a top priority for us,” Olopade said.
According to the NSC boss, the Commission’s preparation plans will focus heavily on discipline, improved support systems, and performance standards across all sports federations.
“We want our athletes to compete under the best possible conditions,” he implied.
Olopade also challenged Team Nigeria to aim for at least 20 medals at the Games, insisting the target remains ambitious but achievable.
“We are targeting a minimum of 20 medals,” he noted.
The sports administrator explained that current projections suggest Nigeria could secure around 16 medals, but the Commission wants athletes to push beyond expectations.
“The idea is to motivate the athletes to achieve more,” he added.
Olopade stressed that athlete welfare, discipline, and strong preparation would remain major benchmarks in the Commission’s roadmap ahead of the Games.
“Every federation must raise its standards,” he stressed.
The NSC remains optimistic that the groundwork currently being laid will help Nigeria produce one of its strongest Commonwealth Games performances in recent years.
“Good preparation and proper welfare can improve performances significantly,” many sports observers believe.
Team Nigeria is expected to compete across several sporting events as preparations continue intensifying ahead of Glasgow 2026.
For Bukola Olopade, the message is clear.
Athlete welfare is important.
Nigeria must aim for at least 20 medals.
And strong preparation remains essential for international success.
Because athletes perform best when they are motivated, supported, and properly prepared to compete at the highest level.
The post Bukola Olopade Prioritises Athlete Welfare While Targeting 20 Medals At Commonwealth Games first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.
The post Bukola Olopade Prioritises Athlete Welfare While Targeting 20 Medals At Commonwealth Games appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
- Event: Olympic Day Tooke Run 2026
- Categories: Half Marathon (21KM), 10KM (Fun Run), 5KM (Walk for Fitness Inclusivity)
- Prize money: Ug.Shs 120,000,000
- Date: Saturday, 20th June 2026
- Start & finish: Bushenyi sports ground
- Theme: Move, Learn & Discover for Nutrition-Care
- Chief Runner: His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
The Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), in partnership with Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBIC) and Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre (BIRDC), officially unveiled a UGX 120,000,000 (One hundred and twenty million) prize cash for the 2026 Olympic Day Tooke Run set for 20th June in Bushenyi District.
The event to unveil this hefty prize money took place at the BIRDC head offices in Kampala on Tuesday, 2nd June 2026.
Rev. Professor Florence Muranga Isabirye, the Nutrition Ambassador at Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) graced the event flanked by UOC’s administrator Elijah Njawuzi and the route director Timothy Masaba.
“The prize monies across the different categories are meant to appreciate the effort of the runners and motivate them as we grow the sport of running in Uganda” Rev. Prof Muranga stated.
The prize money will be awarded across the 21KM Half Marathon, 10KM Road Race, and 5KM Fun Run/Walk categories, including a dedicated Under-16 Youth Race aimed at nurturing and rewarding emerging talent.
A lion’s share of this money will go to the 21KM runners who will pocket Ug.Shs 72,000,000 in total for the total five across both gender.
Ug.Shs 24,000,000 will be rewarded to the 10KM runners and the rest will be shared among the 5KM recreational runners.
Besides the money for the top runners, there will be a ceremonial medal for everyone who participates as well as a gift hamper.
Held under the theme “Move, Learn and Discover for Nutrition Care,” the Run seeks to raise support for Uganda’s team to the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, promote healthy lifestyles, and champion nutrition awareness through the power of sport.
Registration is ongoing at register.olympictookerun.com. Secure your kit today for only UGX 35,000 and be part of a movement that is transforming lives through sport and nutrition.
His Excellency president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to be the chief guest.
The post Olympic Day Tooke Run 2026: Hefty Ug.Shs 120,000,000 prize money kitty unveiled appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
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