MOKOPANE – Katijah Essack, Treasurer of the Potties Athletic Club says: “The club sees themselves all as winners, just qualifying for the Comrades is an achievement on its own. We are very proud of each and every participant.”
The runners did very well during the run and only two did not manage to finish. Cecilia Ferreira and novice runner, Pius Gandidzanwa.
According to Essack they went up to 70 km and were stopped at the second last cut off. Novice runner, Tiki Kruger Lekaowa could unfortunately not manage to take part due to work related responsibilities.
Luckily, Andrea Ferreira, novice runner finished with a smile in a time of 11:54:16.
Gert Pretorius managed to finish but was a minute over the finish cut off time.
Andrea says: “It was a very hard run. Some of the roads were easier than the uphills, and downhills in between. It was very stressful but I am very lucky that I did not have blue toenails, swollen feet or any complications afterwards. The supporters next to the road were wonderful, they encouraged and cheered for us. That helped a lot to keep moving forward. I was running for my mother who passed away recently who wanted to see both her daughters, me and Cecilia, run together. Unfortunately my sister did not manage to finish but I am still proud of her and myself. For her it was a very emotional run. I am not sure if I want to participate for my back-to-back Comrades next year because it is very hard, but I will see how I feel closer to that time.
Usually the bug bites again and everyone forgets about the difficulty of the Comrades and then you find yourself in the zone again.” She thanks everyone who supported her. Novice runner, Lekaowa, who withdraw at the last minute: “My soul is shattered.
“I worked so hard, but I learned that there comes a time in life that you have to make the right choices which influences the future.”
“I feel happy about the thought that there is always next year.”
The runners results:
• Andrea Ferreira (novice runner): 11:54:16.
• Annemari Kruger: 10:53:37.
• Rudine Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen: 10:53:37.
• Sarie Coetzee: 10:52:45.
• Aubrey Baloyi: 10:28:4.
• Estelle Geerkens: 10:17:56.
• Johannes Molokome: 9:53:0
• Philbert Seabela: 10:58:0.
• Collins Bopape: 11:34:0.
