Polokwane running clubs celebrate Comrades success
The Polokwane Athletics Club and the Pietersburg Road Runners independently hosted welcome-back celebrations for their Comrades runners.
POLOKWANE – Polokwane Athletics Club hosted a Comrades welcome-back celebration last Wednesday for club members who participated in the ultra-marathon recently, to acknowledge their outstanding achievements.
Cheers and applause rang out, honouring the dedication and hard work of those who crossed the finish line.
The secretary of the club, Carin Smit, said the Comrades Marathon remains the biggest running event on their club calendar and being among the top 10 clubs with the most entries, is a win in itself.
“To those who finished, congratulations, your hard work paid off in a big way and to those who didn’t make it to the finish line, your work is commendable.”
One of the athletes who crossed the finish line, Pelly Lamola, said she was truly proud of her achievement.
“I managed to come this far after always believing in myself, and I’m thankful for what God did for me, for giving me strength and also for my family who supported me throughout the journey. I managed to make it to the finish line and it is only by God’s grace.”
Runners returned with various medals, symbolising their hard-earned achievements.
Marathon results:
Silver medals: 2
Bill Rowans
Women: 1
Men: 23
Robert Mtshali medal
Women: 7
Men: 22
Bronze
Women: 4
Men: 35
Vic Clapham
Women: 18
Men: 40
Meanwhile, the Pietersburg Road Runners also held their welcome-back ceremony at the club last Wednesday, celebrating runners who competed in the Comrades Marathon this year.
“Our runners returned victorious with an impressive array of accolades, including silver, Bill Rowan and Robert Mtshali medals, among others. These medals are a testament to the hard work and relentless spirit of our athletes,” said the chairperson of the Pietersburg Road Runners, Colinda Potgieter .
Out of seven first-time participants, six successfully completed the race within the allocated time which is seen as a phenomenal accomplishment and a clear indication of the bright future for the club.
“As we celebrate these successes, our sights are already set on the Down Run in 2025. We are eager to see even more of our members participate and achieve their goals. We encourage everyone to join us and start training early to ensure that they are fit, motivated, and ready to take on the challenge next year,” she added.
The club’s Comrades finishers are Timothy Munzhelele who obtained silver, with Johan van der Merwe, Asefa Erute, Viraldi Engelbrecht and John Mabogoane securing Bill Rowan medals.
Annelise Burke and Lize-Marie Opperman both won Robert Mtshali medals with Michael Mosomane and Johannes Dube winning bronze. Runners who obtained Vic Clapham medals are Mapula Mathiba, Bolink Roos, Jean-Mari Williams, Naomi Mouton, Ernest Rossouw, Chris De Klerk and Genevieve Mckenzie.
