#Comrades2024: Local runners successfully tackle tough Comrades Marathon up-run

Elias Kope from the Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) clocked 07:13:20 for his first silver medal in his debut Comrades Marathon, while his teammates Shane McGregor and Nico Pretorius earned their third consecutive silvers in the up-run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on June 9.

Gerda Steyn dominated the women’s race. She bettered her own up-run record from 2019 by 09:08, setting a new women’s course record of 05:49:46. Alexandra Morozova (06:05:12) was second while American Courtney Olsen (06:08:09) completed the top three.

The Flying Dutchman, Piet Wiersma from the Netherlands, left a strong men’s field in his heels on the Polly Shorts climb to win the race in 05:25, ahead of Nedbank RC teammates Dan Moselakwe (05:25:45) and Ethiopian Degefa Lafebo (05:27:48).

McGregor was again the first Benonian across the finish line when he clocked 06:53:52 for his first up-run silver. Pretorius crossed the line at 07:12:20 while Kope finished the race at 07:13:30 to secure the BNAC to three silvers.

Along with the trio, 152 BNAC runners finished the race. Mpho Pilusa earned a double green in his 20th run while the Benoni Northerns Sports Club (BNAC) runner clocked 09:28:50 for her green number.

Club captain Mark Dingle also earned his green number. He led the Bill Rowan medal charge after completing the race at 07:34:30 as the club collected.

Debutant Nadia Emslie was the first BNAC lady at the finish, crossing the line at 08:45:05 to add to the club’s 25 Bill Rowan medals.

Furthermore, the club earned 33 Robert Mtshali, 36 bronze and 55 Vic Clapham medals, collecting 155 medals, a massive improvement from the 119 from last year’s down-run.

Daveyton Hearts

Comrades Marathon silver medal runner Johnny Mokgoko earned his 12th silver after completing the race in 07:28:30. This was his fifth up-run silver.

Felly Moraba collected the club’s only Bill Rowan medal after finishing the race in 07:57:27 while Edward Kodisang added a Robert Mtshali gong, crossing the line in 09:37.

The club collected four bronze and three Vic Clapham medals as 10 of their 11 starters finished the race. Nhlanhla Mqwasele did not complete the race for the second successive year.

Benoni Harriers

Armstrong Khoza led the Harriers’ charge with a Robert Mtshali medal after finishing in 09:09:40. Provy Shumba added the club’s second Robert Mtshali medal.

Six Harriers runners collected bronze medals, including debutant Lizette Whittington, who crossed the line in 10:57:39. A further seven Vic Clapham medals were added as 15 of the 17 starters finished the race.

Benoni High Athletic Club

Three runners finished the race, with Desmond Phillips clocking 08:54:43 for a Bill Rowan medal. Pieter de Waal earned a Robert Mtshali medal with 09:03:50 and Mark Spigolon competed the 85.9km distance in 11:49:25 for a Vic Clapham medal.

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