DURBAN — Veteran Zimbabwean Stephen Muzhingi finished eighth in the gruelling 90th edition of the Comrades Marathon 89km race in KwaZulu Natal yesterday morning.
Three-times Comrades Marathon winner, Muzhingi, literally crawled to the finishing line in 5:56:36.
The 90th edition of the Comrades Marathon produced two South African winners as Gift Kelehe and Caroline Wostmann crossed the line to take the men’s and women’s titles respectively.
Wostmann says she ran her heart out, in support of her teammate and friend, Rihanna van Niekerk, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She is the first South African woman since Rae Bisschoff in 1998 to win the ultra-marathon.
Wostmann beamed her way to the end comfortably and took the race away from the Nurgalieva twins who usually dominate.
She paid tribute after her win to her coach, Lindsey Parry: “You know I was following a plan I went through a strategy with my coach Lindsey and it just so happened that according to that plan I happened to go into the lead early, but I decided this is my plan, I know what I’m capable of today and I was gonna stick to that plan. Everything is sore right now, I am aching all over, but I’m so happy and it was worth all the pain.”
Kelehe, running for the Samancor Chrome Marathon Club, took the “up” run title in a time of 5:38:36 while Wostmann finished in 6:12:22 in Nedbank colours.
Kelehe’s victory marks the first time two brothers have won the historic race, as Kelehe’s brother Andrew won in 2001.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
At the finish line in Pietermaritzburg, Kelehe’s brother Andrew and his fianceé Nombuso Maphanga gave him a big hug congratulating him on his victory.
Maphanga says she was thrilled that Kelehe had won and that the win, worth R375 000 in prize money, would enable them to get married.
Ethiopian Mohammed Husien finished second in the men’s race, while another South African Hatiwande Nyamande finished third.
In the women’s race, Charne Bosman finished second while Elena Nurgalieva came home in third.
Meanwhile, nine times Comrades winner Bruce Fordyce says it is extremely challenging to run Comrades through to the end in under 12 hours.
“If it were easy anyone could do it and I think that Comrades Marathon runners are not anyone. They are very special people and they are going to test themselves today and challenge themselves to get through this course. From 65km to the end you find out who you are, so it’s a great honour to finish Comrades.”
Top 10 men
1 Gift Kelehe (South Africa), Samancor Chrome Marathon Club, 5:38:36 2 Mohammed Husien (Ethiopia), Nedbank Running Club, 5:46:14 3 Hatiwande Nyamande (South Africa), F1 Xcallibre Running Club, 5:48:19 4 Lebohang Monyele (Lesotho), Maxed Elite Pro Club, 5:52:32 5 Teboho Sello (Lesotho), Maxed Elite Pro club, 5:54:03 6 Joseph Mphuti (South Africa), Sibanye Gold Beatrix Mine Athletic Club, 5:54:29 7 Claude Moshiywa (South Africa), Nedbank Running Club, 5:55:17 8 Stephen Muzhingi (Zimbabwe), Fast Way AC, 5:56:36 9 Sandile Ngunuza (South Africa), Nedbank Running Club, 5:57:08 10 Thuso Mosiea (South Africa), Maxed Elite Pro Club, 5:59:08
Top 10 women 1 Caroline Wostmann (South Africa), Nedbank Running Club, 6:12:22 2 Charne Bosman (South Africa), Nedbank Running Club, 6.33:24 3 Elena Nurgalieva (Russia), Team Vitality, 6:40.36 4 Olesya Nurgalieva (Russia), Team Vitality, 6:41:18 5 Nina Podnebesnova (Russia), Nedbank Running Club, 6:41:48 6 Eleanor Greenwood (Britain), Nedbank Running Club, 6:44:03 7 Emmerantia Rautenbach (South Africa), Nedbank Running Club, 6:45:22 8 Joasia Zakrzewski (Britain), Nedbank Running Club, 7:00:45 9 Simona Staicu (Hungary), Nedbank Running Club, 7:01:14 10 Yolande McLean (South Africa), Born 2 Run Athletics Club, 7:01:49 — Online
