Northerns runners join elite club

Wednesday, September 3, was an exciting night for a particular group of road runners from Benoni Northerns Athletics Club (BNAC) when the club hosted their 2014 Comrades green number function.

Eight road warriors will forever be entrenched in the club’s history after their names were emblazoned on the Comrades Green Number achievements board.

Speaking of their achievements, guest speaker on the evening Derek Wright, a member of the Green Number Club himself, with 19 finishes, said: “To all the past and present members here tonight who have a Comrades Green Number, I salute each and every one of you.

“You are all heroes and, although you may not know it, you have been the inspiration to many Northerns members who have followed in your footsteps.”

Nichodemus Molemane, Paul M’Crystal, Michiel Eksteen, Carolyn de Jager, Wade Griffon and Gert Human were honoured for completing the Comrades Marathon for the 10th time, while Gunter Stapel and Greg Bishop were celebrated for earning their double Green Numbers, having completed the daunting marathon on 20 occasions.

Each runners’ history of running the Comrades is:

• Molemane: He has run all 10 marathons in a band between 9:35 and 10:07, with just under 30 minutes between his fastest and slowest Comrades. He has run all 10 in BNAC colours and this year clinched his green number with a solid time of 9:45.
• M’Crystal: The former BNAC chairman (2011 to 2013) has achieved seven bronze medals, two Bill Rowan medals and one Vic Clapham in his 10 races.
• Eksteen: He has run his 10 marathons over a period of 15 years (seven times under 10 hours with a fastest time of 9:27 two years ago).
• De Jager: She has run 10 Comrades Marathons in a row for BNAC since 2005, with nine Vic Clapham medals and one bronze.
• Griffon: He has run all 10 races for BNAC and has eight bronze medals and two Vic Clapham medals in his collection.
• Human: Started running Comrades in 1984 and ran three marathons in the ’80s (all under 11 hours). He made a comeback to the race in 2000 and ran two in a row (both bronze medals) before stopping again. Returned to the race in 2010 and has managed five finishes in a row all in BNAC colours (all Vic Claphams) spanning 30 years.
• Stapel (double Green Number): Started off in 1994 and has ran all races over 10 hours. Stapel slowly progressed every year and by his eighth run was down to 7:39. Between 2002 and 2007 he claimed five silver medals and a bronze. His overall record is eight bronze, seven Bill Rowan medals and five silver medals. He ran his 20th Comrades in 21 years, having missed out only in 2011. He has run his last seven Comrades for BNAC.

• Bishop (double Green Number): He has run 20 Comrades in a row. His first run in 1995 was in 8:47, and from then on he has gained 19 silvers in a row. He has finished in the top 100 four times and arguably his best race ever was last year’s up-run; when the majority of the field wilted in the Berg wind heat, he ran 6:33 for an overall 44th placing. Joined BNAC from Boksburg Athletics Club in 2009.