Harriers lead the way at the 2023 Comrades Marathon
Harriers sees 73 starters and 68 finishers, along with a number of personal milestones, at the 2023 Comrades Marathon.
Randburg Harriers once again turned up in numbers and determination at this year’s Comrades Marathon.
The 90km down run started at City Hall in Pietermaritzburg and finished in Durban on June 11.
Of the 73 club members who started, an impressive 68 finished. John Black earned a silver medal along with his green number (10 finishes) while Tahepo Mamorare also earned a silver medal.
The club boasted nine Bill Rowan medals, 14 Robert Mtshali medals, and 19 bronze medals. Claret and Thando Shabangu only just made the bronze medal cut-off time. There were 21 Vic Clapham medals.
Special mention should also be made of Reform Ndlovu, who in 1999 ran his first Comrades in 7:02:22. Since then he has earned 10 silver medals over the years, and his time this year was 7:52:53. He was the fifth grandmaster to finish the run.
Head of marketing at the club Luthando Mhlahlo said despite the lack of a motivating start signal, the run was a great success. “We lined up anticipating the chariots of fire that forms part of the tradition and there were technical issues to the effect that our runners did not hear it,” said Mhlahlo, who finished in 11:44.
“But we sang our hearts out during the National Anthem and Shosholoza, these needed no technology only the spirit of the Comrades runner, and we delivered. With that disadvantage of a start, the runners perservered from Maritzburg.”
He said the community came out in numbers to honour and support the runners, water tables were well-stocked, the route was clearly marked, the weather was a blessing and the vibe at the stadium was magnificent.
“It was truly a blessing to have experienced the 2023 race.”
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