Comrades’ Golden Boy
Peddie-born runner a star
CHUFFED Sandile Ngunuza became the first Port Elizabeth athlete to win a Comrades Marathon gold medal in the professional era when he raced to ninth place in Maritzburg on Sunday.
Smiling from ear-to-ear when he arrived back in the Bay yesterday, the 32-year-old Ngunuza said striking gold meant the world to him.
The Soweto-on-Sea resident finished this year’s 87km “up” run in a time of 5hrs and 57min. He earned R18 000 for his effort plus incentives from his home club Nedbank Athletics.
“Last year I didn’t finish the race due to cramps. This year my goal was to finish under six hours and break my 2013 time of 6:01 and also better my 14th placing
“This year’s position was just a bonus to me. Winning a gold medal means everything to me because I have done the Two Oceans and the World Champs but the Comrades it’s the only thing I have been trying for three years now,” said Ngunuza.
The Peddie-born runner says the only thing on his mind when he crossed the line were his children.
“I wished my children were there to witness my achievement because they are the ones who assist and motivate me,” he said.
Ngunuza started running in 1992 at Mzomncane Primary School in Peddie and never looked back.
He joined Nedbank Athletes Club in 2008 with the aim of pursuing a professional career in the sport.
Ngunuza, who works at Bathroom Bizarre, said his preparations were much tougher than usual this year but said because of his passion for running it came a lot easier.
“I am definitely coming back next year. Hopefully I can also improve my time,” he said.
Ngunuza’s manager Irene van Eeden said as Nedbank Athletes Club they were extremely proud of his achievement.
“He is the first Nedbank PE Comrades gold medallist and I think he is the first Eastern Cape runner to win gold medal in the Two Oceans Ultra and Comrades Marathon.
“We are very proud of Sandile. We have helped and coached him for a number of years. He and his family are very close to our hearts. He is very disciplined and respected by all the club members,” said Van Eeden.
She added: “Sandile had a plan for Comrades this year and stuck to it on race day. We managed to support him a few times along the route and could see his improvement in position as the day went on. He was focused and comfortable all the way.”
Comrades race commentator Alec Riddle said the gold medal was very special for the Eastern Cape.
“So many PE runners have aspired to get a gold medal, including myself years ago, but we all fell short. It was a phenomenal performance from Sandile to be able to make the top 10. It’s amazing because you are competing against professionals and international,” said Riddle.
The last PE Comrades gold medallist was Michael Mpotoane in 2001. But he was from Mpumalanga and trained and ran with PE-based club MaxAfrica in the same year.