Mamabolo floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee
HISTORY has proved that the Comrades Marathon, irrespective of the run, is a difficult race to defend — especially for South African athletes.
Try telling that to the downrun defending champion Ludwick Mamabolo, whose confidence ahead of today’s race was so high he was wearing dark glasses indoors.
He has a lot to prove, especially after the drama of the positive drugs test that followed his victory. He said he intends to put that behind him by winning, and his tone made him sound like the Muhammad Ali of long-distance running.
“What happened in 2012 is water under the bridge. I don’t need anybody to remind me about that year. It is 2014 and I need the title without needing any references to the past. I am not here for the other events and I am not here to prove a point to anyone. I am here to do what God and the angels sent me to do,” Mamabolo said.
The Nedbank team, which Mamabolo is part of, is almost certain to be fighting for first place, even though the race has never ceased to throw up surprises. While they have last year’s winner Claude Moshiywa and 2012’s second-place finisher, Bongmusa Mthembu, the Toyota International team is led by three-time winner Stephen Muzhingi, the only runner after Bruce Fordyce to successfully defend the down run.
Formula One and Maxed Elite have also put up strong teams, but the latter, highlighted by Marko Mambo’s appearance, is
I am not here to prove a point. I am here to do what God and the angels sent me to do
better placed to challenge for the lesser gold medals.
Muzhingi said he is not 100% fit but the stakes are far too high for him to be languishing on the sidelines. His boldness was not as pronounced as that of Mamabolo’s, but it is often easier to talk than it is to run, something he proved last year.
“I like the Comrades and there was no way that I was going to miss out this year after a disappointing performance. My injury last year was too severe; I was told not to run by doctors. I tried my best but it was not enough.
“I love this race too much to miss it,” Muzhingi said.
The Nurgalieva twins, Olesya and Elena, who run for Nedbank, are again expected to lead a women’s field that is rather thin of South African medal hopefuls. Elena, who has won eight of the past 10 races both ways, said she was confident of defending her 2012 title.
“I did catch a bit of flu but I took up an even more serious training regime at higher altitudes, so I hope it will work for me,” Elena said.