Legends entries still on
He suggested the idea behind Legends is to grow the event in tandem with the capacity of Buffalo City.
The HOD at the Eastern Cape department of sport, recreation, arts and culture Mzolisi Matutu was reassuring in his message that the department remained “very excited at the progress of Legends”. He added that the marathon “talks to our goals in developing sports” in the province.
So with entries still open competitors will wonder who might sneak in the back door to challenge them.
What is known is the fact that the men’s race is looking very much like it could fall to any one of three Comrades champions. That there might be a proverbial “dark horse” in the field is real, but the pedigree of Bongmusa Mthembu, who won this year’s up-run Comrades, is telling.
Mthembu also won the 2014 down Comrades and he was second home at the last 68km Legends in 2015.
There will be no course knowledge advantage for him, however, as the route is completely different.
Gift Kelehe won Comrades in 2015 and that was an up run. Last year was not kind to the defending champion, but he came bouncing back this year and finished third.
Last year’s winner, David Gatebe, a stable companion of Kelehe, was emphatic in victory and set a new down Comrades record.
The Legends is itself a downhill race so Gatebe may well fancy his chances based on that.
At the time of writing the women’s race looks to be wide open, though with Monica Kativhu back for her fourth Legends and given that she has a top five finish on each occasion, she should be the favourite.
Buffs Marathon women’s new race record holder, Ann Ashworth from Johannesburg cannot be discounted. She also won the Loskop 50km marathon earlier this year.
In the Legends 60:11 half marathon in commemoration of the world best times set in the city 30 and 26 years ago, the racing is expected to be fast and intense. Local knowledge suggests that Lusapho April will go out front and be chased by a young pack inclusive of the promising 23 year old, Lukhanyo Ngxoko.
Liziwe Mabona, from Gauteng, looks to be the pick of the women, but again a local might cause an upset, with Stephanie Smith having taken time out after running top 10 gold positions at both Two Oceans and Comrades in 2017. Since then she has raced only once and that was a half marathon where she ran a comfortable personal best.
Top pro triahlete, Cindy Schwulst has also entered. This will be only her second half marathon, but she will be competitive.
A clear morning is expected, with the temperature around 15°C with a moderate north easterly wind. If the wind gets up it will assist the ultra marathon on the final pull up the NE Expressway, but could hinder the half marathon performances.