Runners celebrate Comrades’100th
Runners across the region joined thousands of athletes across the world to celebrate 100 years since the first Comrades Marathon with the Hope Challenge on Sunday.
By the time entries had closed for the Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) second virtual event, a total of 14 484 entrants from just about every continent had signed up to be a part of it.
The CMA chairperson, Cheryl Winn, thanked South Africans and the world at large for supporting what has been the Ultimate Virtual Race, making it an all-round inclusive running affair, attracting runners, their families, friends and even their pets to take part. “The runners showcased the camaraderie, triumph and hope of the human spirit in yesterday’s virtual event, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the social distancing directives issued by governments around the world,” she said, adding that they had planned to make the 100th year of the Comrades Marathon that much more fun, inclusive and memorable, but that Covid-19 certainly precluded a lot of the festivities from taking place. "We are, however, extremely grateful that this year’s second virtual event had resonated so strongly with the running community all over the world, that so many participants dared to hope with us and be part of the Comrades Centenary Hope Challenge.”
Two local runners, both of the City of Mbombela Running Club, stunned with their times in the 45-kilometre race. Morris Maiga completed this distance in a breathtakingly fast three hours and six minutes, which amounts to four minutes and six seconds per kilometre.
His teammate, Thandeka Hlatshwayo, ran the 45 kilometres in three hours and 28 minutes.
Sibusiso Vilane, Delina Schatz, Gilda Mavromatis, Steven Mavromatis, Tumelo Kgwete and Celeste Oosthuizen, all of the LowMed Running Club, were the only runners known to Lowvelder who took on and conquered the 90-kilometre race.
Deane Mortlock of Nelspruit Marathon Club, who ran the route on the R37 Sabie/ Lydenburg Road set out by coach Peter Smit, finished the 21 kilometres in one hour and 17 minutes.
Madeleine Whitehair and Simoné Odendaal of RWFL both finished the 21 kilometres on the same route in one hour and 35 minutes.
* These were the only known results by the time of going to press.