DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR SA Mthembu and Ashworth dominate to bring home the gold in Comrades Down run
BONGMUSA Mthembu and Ann Ashworth produced a golden double for South Africa at the 2018 Comrades Marathon Down run with both Men’s and Women’s titles staying on home soil.
Bulwer-born Mthembu was the star of the show as he became the first South African male athlete in 30 years to win back-to-back Comrades titles.
Third title
Mthembu raced to victory in a time of 5:28.39, winning his third title after victories in 2014 and 2017.
“When I crossed the finish line I was very emotional; to win the Comrades is not easy, it took a lot of kilometres (of training),” Mthembu said.
“It means a lot to me and I am looking forward to seeing what is going to happen after this win.
“I am lucky because I do it for the love of the sport so I think that is the main driving force.”
Mthembu had to deal with the death of close friend and teammate Siphiwe Ndlela, who died at a training camp in the Drakensberg in March.
He had to cut his training camp in Lesotho short for a memorial service for Ndlela.
Mthembu made history last year when he became the first South African to win the race more than once since Bruce Fordyce.
Fordyce was coincidentally the last South African man to win back-to-back titles in 1988.
Mthembu made his break at Cowies Hill after spending the majority of the race in the lead bunch.
He dropped Edward Mothibi and David Gatebe at the final major climb in the race.
Three-time Two Oceans champion Marko Mambo paid the price for breaking early with the lead group catching him with 26 kilometres to go.
It was a South African 1-2 with Joseph Mphuthi following behind Mthembu in a time of 5:35.14.
“I wasn’t sure that I would be able to do it but I think the experience of knowing how to win the Comrades helped,” Mthembu said.
“I am happy and excited but I know it is just for this day and the next day I need to start preparing for next year.”
Ashworth brushed last year’s disappointment aside to claim her maiden Comrades Marathon women’s title.
Ashworth ran a composed race taking the lead for the first time with 41 kilometres to go winning with a tie of 6:10.04. She withdrew a kilometre into last year’s race after a fall at the start.
It was a one-two finish for South Africa with pre-race favourite Gerda Steyn entering the Moses Mabhida Stadium in second place with 6:15.34.
Russian athlete and 2017 runner-up Alexandra Morozova finished third in 6:20.21.
“I don’t think there is anybody more surprised about me sitting up here than me to be quite frank,” Ashworth said at the post-race press conference.
“My coach (John Hamlet) had big plans for me and I thought he was smoking really good stuff but I followed the plan and, wow, look what happened.”
The lead changed three times with Russian Nina Zarina making an early break before pre-race favourites Steyn, Ashworth, and Charné Bosman overtook her.
Steyn held the lead for a brief period but once Ashworth got her nose in front she opened some daylight.
Two Oceans champion Steyn tussled with Morozova for a major part of the race as they tried to reel in Ashworth.
Capitalising on the downhills Morozova closed in on Ashworth as they entered Pinetown with Steyn falling behind.
Morozova managed to get a slender lead but Cowies Hill proved to be the equaliser with Ashworth taking control on the relentless climb.