Mokopane runners to take on world’s biggest and oldest ultra-marathon
A total of 16 athletes from the Potties Athletic Club, along with thousands other runners from all over the world, will be competing in the world's biggest and oldest ultra-marathon, the 92nd Comrades Marathon, on 4 June.
MOKOPANE – The race starts at the Durban City Hall at 05:30 and ends 12 hours later at the Scottsville Race Course in Pietermaritzburg, covering a distance of about 88 km.
During the event an athlete must reach five cut-off points in specified times to complete the race.
The spirit of the Comrades Marathon is said to be embodied by attributes of camaraderie, selflessness, dedication, perseverance and ubuntu.
Potties runners, Sarie Coetzee, Estelle Geerkens, Cheraye Engelbrecht, Rudine Jansen van Niewenhuizen, Annemari Kruger, Josephine Sekhaolelo, Khatija Essack, Elmarie Badenhorst, Gert Pretorius, Aubrey Baloyi, Johannes Molokomme, Frans Makhubedu, Lucas Khumalo, Philbert Seabela, Hosea Seabela and Collins Bopape will be among the 20 000 runners who will be anxiously tackling the daunting task early on a Sunday morning.
Engelbrecht, Janse van Niewenhuizen and Seabela are tackling this run for the first time.
The members of the Potties Athletic Club are very excited about the event as they have put in hard work and effort in practicing for it.
According to Andrea Ferreira, one motivation is that not everyone is strong enough to be able to run, so it is a massive privilege for those who can.
The fight against cancer is also one of their motivations.
Medals are awarded to all runners completing the course in under 12 hours.
Medals are currently awarded as follows:
• Gold medals – the first 10 men and women
• Wally Hayward medals (silver-centred circled by gold ring) – 11th position to sub 6hrs 00min
• Silver medals – 6hrs 00min to sub 7hrs 30min
• Bill Rowan medals (bronze-centred circled by silver ring) – 7hrs 30min to sub 9hrs 00min
• Bronze medals – 9hrs 00min to sub 11hrs 00min
• Vic Clapham medals (copper) – 11hrs 00min to sub 12hrs 00min
The Comrades was run for the first time on 24 May 1921 and with the exception of a break during World War II, has been run every year since.
To date, over 300 000 runners have completed the race.
The race was the brainchild of World War I veteran, Vic Clapham, to commemorate the South African soldiers killed during the war.
Bosveld wishes the runners good luck and look forward to sharing your achievements with the community.
