Perth runners show sole for development athletes
The Australian-based runner brought gear to Benoni for development runners.
The spirit of the Comrades Marathon stretches far beyond the reaches of the route between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.
Perth, Australia resident and former Benonian Martin Steel, who runs the Comrades Marathon in the colours of Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC), and a group of Perth-based runners known as the ‘C Team’ (who get to together to train for the Comrades) rallied together to donate running equipment (mostly shoes) to BNAC’s development runners.
Steel said that the majority of the gear was gathered by Neil Boudville who rallied to collect shoes, shirts and shorts from family and friends.
Following the Comrades Marathon on June 10, Steel handed over about 40kg of running kit to BNAC’s Richard Pretorius, who heads up the club’s development portfolio, at Benoni Northerns Sports Club on June 14.
“I was on Facebook and saw that Richard had shared a post about Lakefield gardener Bright Mikolongwe who finished first at the Modern Athlete 21km in Irene,” said Steel.
“I thought: ‘if this guy can do something like that, let me see what I can do’.
“I contacted some of the guys from Perth who were coming over to South Africa for the Comrades and we got the kit together.”
Pretorius said that the running gear will be put to good use for disadvantaged runners.
“We’ll also get in touch with the Daveyton Hearts guys to see who we can assist,” he said.
“Thanks to Martin and the running community in Perth.”
ALSO READ:
Locals run down from Maritzburg to Durban at Comrades 2018
Follow us on these platforms:
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp: 079 431 1217
Instagram: benonicitytimes.co.za
