Comrades Marathon ends on record-breaking high

Sunday’s 96th Comrades Marathon ended with broken records and Comrades legend and nine-time winner Bruce Forsyth calling it “the most memorable Comrades Marathon”.

Another successful edition of the iconic marathon ended at Kingsmead cricket stadium in Durban on Sunday, with a sense of euphoria from young and old runners as they reached the finish line.

Crowds cheered the runners on towards the finish, shouting even louder as the last batch of runners hurried to make the 12-hour cut-off at 5.30 pm, as they approached the finish in the fading daylight.

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Gerda Steyn added the women’s down-run record to her up-run mark and Tete Dijana smashed the men’s down-run record, while the thousands of non-elite runners included an 81-year-old finisher.

Dijana broke the Comrades record of five hours, 18 minutes, set by David Gatebe in 2019, while Steyn smashed the 34-year down record set by Frith van der Merwe in 1989.

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Both winners took their second Comrades titles.

The absence of KZN runners among the leading finishers was noted.

Speaking on the lack of provincial runners taking top places in this year’s race, local award-winning celebrity coach Xolani Mabhida said if the KZN Department of Sport, Art and Culture worked hand-in-hand with the local coaches, more quality athletes and champions, would be produced.

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Mabhida strongly believes that if the department worked with athletics coaches to establish one training base, this would nurture more “champion material” for the province.

I really think it’s about time that we do something about it. The problem is currently we are all scattered. In most cases coaches or athletes are based all over the show. Others are training in Howick, Impendle, Bulwer, Underberg and Kokstad. Just imagine if the department can sponsor an annual central training camp around YMCA. That alone will produce positive results and future champions.
The Department of Sport and Recreation communications director, Thabo Mofokeng, told The Witness that the department normally worked directly with the federation and the provincial athletics governing body, KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA), but positive suggestions are welcome.

“Officially we deal directly with the federations but we always welcome wise contributions and suggestions,” said Mofokeng.

Department of Sports, Art and Culture
The Department of Sports, Art and Culture on Sunday praised the athletes for their outstanding performances, especially the winners, in an official statement on the success of the event.

They also commended the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) and its local organising committee (LOC) for the way they handled and conducted every aspect of the “successful and incident-free” race.

Mahlaba also congratulated all the runners who participated in the Ultimate Human Race, especially champions Dijana and Steyn.

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Mahlaba commended CMA for hosting the Comrades Marathon, which attracts runners from across the globe.

Commenting on the smooth start to Sunday’s race, the Comrades Marathon Association chairperson, Mqondisi “Mapholoba” Ngcobo, said the event’s local organisation committee must be praised for pulling off another successful Comrades.

Ngcobo told The Witness that keeping in touch and working closer with the local municipality made everything easier.

The praise must go to our LOC, our stakeholders, sponsors, our marketing team and our technical staff. All these guys really worked as partners and displayed passion for the event.
Msunduzi Municipality also worked hard to ensure the start was safe and smooth for all the participants by filling potholes and repairing streetlights.