113 Boksburg Athletic Club members preparing for new Comrades Marathon date

The world’s largest and oldest ultra-marathon race, the Comrades Marathon, has been postponed to an unspecified date amid the worsening state of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The race was scheduled to take place on June 14 but following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement about the extension of the lockdown to the end of April, all hope of the race still going ahead in mid-June was crushed.

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Following the confirmation of the change of date by Athletics South Africa (ASA), it was further added that a new date is yet to be set.

With its sheer size and popularity, the Comrades Marathon is one of ASA’s major income generators and cancellation would have a hugely negative impact on the organisation’s ability to function. Postponement, at this stage, seems like the best possible outcome for both ASA and the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA).

Meanwhile, local running club the Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) has lined-up a total of 113 of its members who will participate in this year’s edition.

The club also has long standing member Coenie Berowsky, who will be attempting his 30th Comrades Marathon in BAC colours.

Below is a list of BAC’s athletes heavily tipped to put the club on the map at the event (top four women and men):

Men

Jabulani David Gamede is a Master runner, finishing top 10 for 2019 in a time of 7:06:08. He has run two Comrades receiving a silver and Bill Rowan medal respectively.

Wynand Strydom has run 25 Comrades, winning 11 silvers, nine bronze and five Bill Rowans.

Josiah Makoro has run 27 Comrades, winning nine silvers, five bronze and 13 Bill Rowans.

Wiehan Van Der Berg has run eight Comrades, winning two silver, one bronze and five Bill Rowans.

Women
Lindy-Lee Folscher has run 13 Comrades, winning three silver, five bronze and five Bill Rowans.

Susan Laybourn has run 16 Comrades, winning 16 bronze.

Edite Bergonzi has run four Comrades, one bronze, two Vic Clapham and one Robert Mtshali medals respectively.

Sally Goncalves has run one Comrades, winning bronze.

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