Mabitle Mines Bloomin’ Hopes
Going up has often been the best part of Johannes Mabitle’s day.
He’s hoping that holds true Sunday when he reaches Doomsday Hill during his first Bloomsday.
Mabitle, a 28-year old South African who worked in a gold mine before he discovered distance running, is a dark horse behind a stable of Kenyan runners and countryman Simon Morolong in the elite field for the 20th annual 12-kilometer race.
Mabitle’s biggest concern isn’t defending champion Josphat Machuka, still stuck in Nairobi with visa problems, but the 7.4-mile loop.
“I don’t know the course,” Mabitle said from Boulder, Colo., his training base. When informed the most famous part of the race is known as Doomsday Hill, he said, “Yes, I like the hilly course. If it is hilly course, I will run very good time.”
Mabitle began working in the mine at 17, when his diversion was soccer. He began running to stay in shape.
“I was working underground, electrician,” Mabitle said. “I work five years underground, gold mine. It was dangerous. It was very hot.”
Glenn Latimer, Mabitle’s agent, said, “He kept plugging away; he liked running. He said running was a much better way to make a living,”
As Mabitle improved, he landed a job on the surface. Then he became a full-time runner and last fall won the South African half marathon championship, propelling him to world-class level.
He gave a hint of his ability by winning a 15k run in Tulsa shortly after the half marathon.
Mabitle went home in December before Latimer, who had just became his representative, took him to the Korean marathon in March in hopes of running a time to qualify for the South African Olympic team.
“He was on a (2-hour, 8-minute pace) with the lead group through 35k (23 miles),” Latimer said. “He finished in 2:13.05.”
More impressive than Mabitle’s first marathon was his race a week later. Latimer encouraged him to ease through the Nortel Cherry Blossom 10 mile just to earn PRRO Circuit points. Mabitle finished third.
“He’ll be a factor on Sunday,” Latimer vowed. “If Johannes is focused, he can win the whole thing.”
Bloomsday is the championship race for the inaugural PRRO season. Mabitle was eighth in last year’s standings.
“My training’s been good,” Mabitle said. “I don’t have a problem with my training but I don’t have a 12k… . I like 15k better.”
Mabitle’s performance in Korea impressed Latimer.
“Eventually I think he can be one of the best marathoners,” Latimer said. “He’s already one of the best in the half marathon. “
On Latimer’s recommendation, Bloomsday elite runner coordinator Don Kardong put Mabitle at 4-1 odds with Morolong, behind Machuka - who shattered the course record last year - at 3-1.
Kardong, who compiles the odds for fun, said it was also 5-1 against Machuka getting his visa. Six of Kardong’s top 10 are Kenyans.
Defending champion and course record holder Delillah Asiago is the 3-1 women’s favorite with Colleen De Reuck and Catherine Ndereba at 4-1. Then it’s a big drop to 8-1, where Kardong installed Spokane marathoner Kim Jones.
, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: BLOOMSDAY ODDS Odds as set by Don Kardong. Men Women 1. Machuka 3-1 1. Asiago 3-1 2. Morolong 4-1 2. De Reuck 4-1 3. Mabitle 4-1 3. Ndereba 4-1 4. Nyakeraka 5-1 4. Markova 8-1 5. Karori 6-1 5. Jones 8-1 6. Kinuthia 6-1 6. Hare 10-1 7. Zepeda 10-1 7. Machado 10-1 8. Otweri 12-1 8. Chirchir 12-1 9. Muindi 12-1 9. Kilpatrick 15-1 10. Jimenez 15-1 10. Lucas 15-1