The mid-February road racing season returned after some high winds and rain postponed a previous race, as Dennis Mbelenzi and Estienne Coetzee were crowned the 2026 Ludwig Cann 10K male and female champions.
On a course known for its demanding undulations, both athletes delivered clinical performances to secure their respective titles in convincing fashion.
Mbelenzi was the class of the field in the men's race, asserting his dominance early on. He crossed the finish line in a swift 33:59, maintaining a gap that his closest rivals struggled to bridge. Kallan Richardson produced a battling display to take the runner-up spot, clocking 34:36, while Philip Woollins completed the podium with a solid time of 36:51.
The women’s race was a testament to depth and endurance, with Estienne Coetzee leading the way. Coetzee’s tactical race saw her finish as the 11th runner overall, stopping the clock in an impressive 39:33. The fight for the remaining podium places was a closely contested affair; Teresa Ruiz secured second place (14th overall) in 40:08, finishing just twenty seconds clear of Stepanka Sprincova, who rounded out the top three with a time of 40:28.
The victory for Mbelenzi marks another successful outing in what has been a prolific start to the 2026 calendar, while Coetzee's performance reinforces her status as one of the island's most consistent distance runners. As the local running community looks ahead to the spring schedule, the results at the Ludwig Cann 10K set a high bar for the competitive months to come.
Click Here to see the Full 2026 February Ludwig Cann 10K Results
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