Potties Athletics Club excels at 97th Comrades Marathon
Rudine Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen was the first Potties athlete to cross the finish line with an impressive time of 08:51:55, earning her a Bill Rowan medal.
MOKOPANE – The 97th Comrades Marathon, held on June 9 attracted over 20 000 runners from around the world for the 49th up-run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, creating a day filled with triumph and exhilaration.
South Africa’s Gerda Steyn once again dominated the women’s race, breaking her own 2019 record with a new time of 05:49:46. In the men’s race, Piet Wiersma from The Netherlands emerged victorious, finishing in 05:25:00.
The Potties Athletics Club had a remarkable showing, bringing home numerous medals.
Rudine Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen was the first Potties athlete to cross the finish line with an impressive time of 08:51:55, earning her a Bill Rowan medal.
Johannes Molokomme completed his 17th Comrades Marathon in 10:31:44, sharing his experience:
“It wasn’t as easy as you can imagine. Bruising and bleeding should summarise my whole story for this year’s Comrades Marathon. Gratitude to my teammates and our supporters for encouraging me along the way.”
Lesiba Letaha, a 65-year-old athlete, finished the race in 10:34:01, receiving a bronze medal.
“The ultimate human race is very demanding. It is a hilly route which requires stamina and endurance throughout. In this race, there’s sweat, pain, and joy.”
Sarie Coetzee and Cecilia Ferreira ran together, finishing with a time of 10:46:14, earning bronze medals.
Coetzee celebrated her 26th medal while Ferreira achieved a personal best, improving her time by one hour and three minutes.
“The up-run is not easy but we had the perfect day; everything just worked out for us,” they shared.
Sello Mabotja completed the race in 11:25:23, securing a Vic Clapham medal, and described the up-run as tough, especially since he was doing a back-to-back race.
Hope Poopedi, in her third Comrades and first up-run, finished in 11:32:23.
“This year’s Comrades was tough. I struggled with the hills, but through determination and perseverance, I finished before the cut-off time. The support from Mokopane was crucial for my timely finish,” she said.
Other Potties athletes also performed admirably:
• Annemari Kruger: 10:52:08.
• Annie Storm: 10:53:27.
• Mogobe Mashishi: 11:09:44.
• Khomotso Mashishi: 11:31:14.
• Andries Bezuidenhout: 11:42:39.
Walter van Wyk and Phestus Kutumela also participated, contributing to the club’s impressive performance at the marathon.
The day was a testament to the endurance, determination, and camaraderie of all the participants.
