Marathon runners from the Goldfields did exceptionally well during the 97th edition of the Comrades Ultra Marathon that was run on Sunday, 9 June, commencing in Durban and ending in Pietermaritzburg.
In fact, the Lejweleputswa district produced this year’s winner in the women’s race. Bothaville’s Gerda Steyn won the 2024 women’s Comrades Marathon, setting a new course record.
She finished the race in 5:49:46. She has had a watershed year and is the current record holder of the Comrades up-run and down-run distance.
There were 44 runners of the 057 Welkom Runners, 22 of the Harmony Striders, and 11 of the Goudveld Multisport athletic clubs.
Forty of the Welkom 057 runners finished within 12 hours.
In 2023, Welkom’s Nkhetheni Masupa finished in a time of 6:54.
“Always compete with yourself” says Masupa. “I use this phrase in everything I do in my life, and it works. In each marathon that I run in, I go all out to smash my previous finish time.
“My 2023 finish time was 6:54 and I am so excited that I managed to better my Comrades Marathon personal best (PB) by 16 minutes to 6:38, not easy on the up-run,” he says.
A well-equipped troop of soldiers from Welkom, known as the 057 Welkom Runners, invaded KwaZulu-Natal to join other long distance runners in tackling the hills from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
From this group of 44, 40 made it to the finishing line within 12 hours.
“Unfortunately four could not make it due to various difficulties,” says Masupa.
The top runners made it in just under seven hours, with the last coming in at just under 12 hours.
Welkom has over the years produced veteran runners.
The “old” men among the 057 runners are Tshehla Serekego, who ran his 20th Comrades this year (double green number), Mabote Mokalodise, Telang Mohlabanyana and Andries Taaibos who each did their 16th race, Hendrick Tsokolibane and Jacob Mjandana who did their 13th, and Jacob Mothokoa and Mokete Phale who completed their 11th Comrades race.
Marius Bester of the Goudveld MultiSport group says this was the first up-race since 2019, which got everyone on their nerves and made them feel like it was their first Comrades ahead.
“After Covid-19 and two off Comrades, one feels a little uncertain about the bumps that await us. But despite that, all our athletes did a great job,” he says.
Bester says Isaac Tsoeu and Dean Dodd won the Bill Rowan medals that they worked very hard for.
“Our other athletes showed off their personal best times. We had two athletes who tackled their first Comrades and ran excellent times.
“Unfortunately, there are also some bad things along the way and four of our athletes had to withdraw from the race in the last few weeks due to injuries or an illness that occurred shortly before the race.”
Rev. Philip Mclaren missed the cut-off time by a few minutes. He struggled with a nagging injury along the way, but still persevered and finished the race.
“He is truly an inspiration to our other athletes. He showed us that with perseverance, everything is possible, and we look up to him. We are proud of all our athletes who completed the Comrades race this year,” says Bester.
He says they look forward to starting with preparations again for next year’s ultramarathon and would like to invite more athletes to join in the fun. This is truly the “Ultimate Human Race”, as they call it.
Deon Lodder, chairman of the Harmony Striders, says Comrades 2024 will be remembered for the manner in which the “lady from Bothaville”, Gerda Steyn, won and also set a new record.
“The up-run and the 97th edition of the Comrades Ultra Marathon was a challenge to all of them.
“The Harmony Striders had 22 athletes participating on Sunday, with team support along the route.
“I am very proud to be part of the team,” says Lodder.
One of the club’s veteran runners, Muso Molefi, received his permanent green number for completing his tenth Comrades Marathon.
