Local athletic club brings home 71 medals from Comrades

The Comrades for 2019 was the up run, starting at the City Hall in Durban and finishing at the Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg, covering a distance of approximately 87km.

BAC's Rudolf Oberholzer negotiating with the 89km ultra-challenge. Photo: supplied.

Seventy-one athletes from the Boksburg Athletics Club (BAC) finished in the latest installation of the Comrades Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal on June 9.

The first BAC athlete to cross the finishing line was Nicholas McCann, who reached home in an impressive time of 6:43:30 to finish 110th overall and 79th in the open category.

Jabulani Gamede finished 10th in the men’s 50-59 age category in a time of 7:06:08.

The first woman home for BAC was Lindy-Lee Folscher, who crossed the finishing line in 8:12:50.

McCann and Gamede were joined by Wynand Strydom (07:25:44) and Dieter Muller (07:29:37) as the only four finishers from the club to earn a silver medal.

Josiah Makoro finished fifth in the men’s 60+ age category in a time of 8:07:12.

Edite Bergonzi has her eye on the prize.

BAC chairperson Benzi Tenza also competed, making it his 15th finish of the world’s largest and oldest ultra-marathon race. Tenza, competing in the men’s 50-59 age category, targeted a finishing time of nine hours – the boss clocked 8:57:34.

His personal best, which he achieved in 2010, is 7:18:48.

South African Gerda Steyn broke the women’s record with her finish time dipping just under six hours. Steyn, who was awarded R500 000 for the feat, clocked 5:58:53.

The men’s winner was Edward Mothibi from Mahikeng.

The club’s medals: Silver four, Bill Rowan 11, Robert Mtshali 11, bronze 16 and Vic Clapham 29.

The club’s notable achievements:

Green Number (10 Comrades completions) achieved: Peace Borake, Gregg Peebles, Rita van Wyk, Meshack Mabote, Jannie Heath and Jeremia Heyman.
Double Green number (20 Comrades completions): Frans Coetzee
11th Comrades: Vincent de Reuck
13th Comrades: Lindy-Lee Folscher and Albert Msongeya Khoza
15th Comrades: Mphikeleli Joseph Tshabalala and Benzi Tenza
16th Comrades: Teresa Peyerl, David Jones, Molefe Motseki and Cosnath Zitha
17th Comrades: Bronwyn Strydom
18th Comrades: Edward Banda
19th Comrades: Michael Sithole
21st Comrades: Phillip Burmeister, Zacharia Mogotsi and Mandi Dudula
22nd Comrades: Dieter Muller
23rd Comrades: Ben Truter and Harold Mkhonto
24th Comrades: Joseph Morowane
25th Comrades: Wynand Strydom
27th Comrades: Josiah Makoro –

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