#Comrades2024: Daveyton Hearts ready for the Comrades Marathon
The club will be represented by 12 runners.
The Daveyton Hearts chairperson, Dikeledi Nhlapo is expecting at least two silver medals from the runners taking part in the up-run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on June 9.
The Hearts will be represented by 12 athletes at the 97th ultimate human race.
Last year, 14 runners went to the race with 13 finishing, earning the club two silver, two Bill Rowan, five Robert Mtshali, three bronze and a single Vic Clapham medal.
Nhlapo said she’s expecting a silver from top runners Johnny Mokgoko and Felly Moraba, adding she’s confident all the runners will finish.
“I wish all our runners the best of luck. It won’t be easy but I’m expecting seven Robert Mtshali and three bronze medals. We are bringing two silvers home,” she said.
Mokgoko is a veteran of 12 Comrades Marathons with 11 silver medals and a single Bill Rowan, which he achieved in the 2013 up-run after finishing the race in 07:31:55, missing the silver by 01:55.
He debuted in the 2010 down-run, clocking 07:22:59 for his first silver.
Mokgoko achieved his best result the following year, coasting to the finish line in Durban in 06:31:34 for his third silver and completing the race 93rd overall.
In addition to his Comrades PB in 2013, the runner has finished the ultramarathon in under seven hours two more times. In his second attempt in 2011, he clocked 06:56:39, finishing 163 and in 2016 he completed the down-run in 06:57:23.
Last year, Mokgoko earned his 11th silver after clocking 07:27:58 and will be gunning for his 12th silver when he lines up outside the Durban City Hall.
Moraba will run in only his second Comrades after debuting in last year’s down-run. He clocked 09:39:05 for a Robert Mtshali medal.
“I’ve been training hard. I’ve done around 702km in mileage in my preparation. I’m now busy tapering. I’m ready for the up-run. I’ve done hill sessions and have realised there’s a way you have to tackle hills,” he said.
Cancer survivor, Edward Kodisang, will be among those representing the club at the race. He will run his eighth ultimate human race.
After battling colon cancer for four years, Kodisang completed his first Comrades since 2018 in last year’s down-run, clocking 09:58:42 for his first Robert Mtshali medal.
Kgopiso Magopane will make his debut while Nhlanhla Mqwashele will attempt to make it to the finish line after not finishing in his maiden race last year.
Also Read: Hearts’ top runners accept Comrades challenge
Also Read: ‘I’d cry so much when I saw my dad in pain’
