Sport

Mphakathi sets sights on Comrades after City to City victory

Ntsindiso Mphakathi fired a silent warning at the rest of the elite field ahead of this year’s Comrades Marathon, suggesting he has the strength to go the distance after stunning a strong line-up to win the City to City ultra-marathon between Pretoria and Johannesburg on Sunday.

With a R200,000 winner’s cheque on the line, Mphakathi had to dig deep in the closing stages to shake off his persistent opponents, opening a gap in the final kilometres of the undulating course to take the 50km race in 2:52:28.

Kenyan athlete Jackson Koisenge held on for second position in 2:52:46, with Tebogo Pulusa grabbing third spot in 2:53:46.

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Preparing for the 85km Comrades Marathon in June, Mphakathi said he had decided earlier this month to have a crack at the City to City title, and his performance had given him confidence that he could put up a fight at the gruelling annual race in KwaZulu-Natal.

Last year he finished 70th at Comrades in 6:03:08, completing the race for the first time in his career, but he still believed he could put up a challenge up front.

“The way I run, I feel stronger when I climb hills, so I think I can handle it at Comrades because it’s an ‘up’ run this year,” said Mphakathi, who won last year’s 42km Soweto Marathon.

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“I was surprised with my result today because I’m in training for Comrades and that’s my focus. I feel motivated now and I won’t be racing again until then.”

Women’s race

In the women’s race, Kenya’s Shelmith Muriuki had it all her own way, and while she admitted afterwards it had taken a lot out of her, she won convincingly in 3:13:04.

Nobukhosi Tshuma of Zimbabwe was next over the line, finishing second in 3:27:11, and Deane Laubscher was the first South African home, ending third in 3:31:33.

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“I feel exhausted, but I had to recover from several injuries last year and I struggled a lot, so I’m grateful for the win,” Muriuki said.

Shorter distances

In the 10km contest, Tladi Modube won the men’s event in 29:43 and Regina Ngungu took the women’s race in 33:48

Katleho Monaheng and Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli won the men’s and women’s 5km races, though athletes were left fuming after a marshalling error forced them to cover something closer to seven kilometres. Monaheng stopped the clock at 21:48 and Phalula-Luthuli was officially timed at 24:18.

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It was the first time the City to City was held since 2015. Previously one of the country’s most popular and prestigious ultra-marathons, it was scratched for eight years due to a lack of sponsorship, with the Gauteng provincial government coming on board along with various other partners this year to ensure the race returned to the calendar.

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By Wesley Botton
Read more on these topics: Comrades Marathonroad running