Vladimir Kotov, the 46-year-old ultra-distance marvel from Cape Town, stunned his opposition with an impeccably-timed attack for his third victory in the final stages of the 84,67km Comrades Marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.
Kotov, who ran the ”up” record with his 5hrs 25min 33sec victory in 2000, bided his time to shatter the challenges of Poland’s Jaraslaw Janicki and Russian Oleg Kharitinov on the approaches to the Polly Shorts climb to open a handsome lead and claim his third uphill victory in 5hrs 31min 22sec.
Fourth place went to SA veteran Wille Mtolo.
Kotov’s Comrades record now reads first in 2000, third in 5:27:21 for the down run, first in 5:30:59 for the 2002 up journey and a disasterous 22nd in 5:57:03 for last year’s down race that was won by South Africa’s Fusi Nhlapo.
Kotov is from Belarus, but he ran for South Africa on Wednesday and his win for a man four years way from his 50th birthday, heralds a performance of legendary proportions. He is the oldest Comrades winner in history — Wally Hayward won it at 45 years old.
Poland’s Jaralsaw Janicki (Mr Price), winner of the down race in 1999, fought back from third to overtake Russian Oleg Kharitonov (Premier) for second in in 5:34:17 Kotov, racing in the colours of Mr Price AC, began controlling the pack after the Nchanga hill climb beyond halfway.
Over Harrison Flats the pack, also including Janicki, was whittled down to eight. Former Comrades winners Andrew Kelehe and 40-year-old Willie Mtolo were holding out comfortably in the pack that held early leader White Modisanye in their sights a short way up the road.
Modisanye was hauled in before Camperdown with 23km to go and then the race was on between Russia’s Kharitonov Simon Mphulanyani, Mtolo, Janicki, Kelehe, Joseph Ikaneng, Kotov and Mluleki Nobanda.
With 20km to go Janicki, Kotov and and Kharitonov put the hammer down on the South Africans and Mtolo was the first to crack. The trio were locked together heading for Little Pollys.
Janicki was the first to slip off the pace when Kotov had a go and Kharitonov ran at the veteran’s shoulder looking game for the fight up the tough Polly Shorts climb before the descent into the Pietermaritzburg bowl.
Kotov attacked on Little Pollys and Kharitonov had no answer for the wily road warrior who needed to open a gap in case he lacked the speed of his younger challenger over the last 10km after Pollys.
Frans Moyo of Harmony chanced his luck with hard early racing and he paid the price when he was reduced to a walk going through the halfway mark at Drummond before a large crowd at the Comrades Marathon on Wednesday.
Moyo went ahead after Fields Hill after about 90 minutes on the road from Durban in ideal, cool conditions then held out for 2hrs 45min 05sec through halfway.
Kotov, Mtolo and Kelehe tucked into the bunch of favourites two minutes down.
Modisanye had a go off the front over the top of Nchanga Hill, but the bunch, containing Russians Kharitonov, Vladimir Yepenov, Andrey Yaroslavtsev and Comrades novice Zamele Gabashe — the newcomer to ultras of Premier who is being coached by former champion Bruce Fordyce — among the contenders as the field moved on towards the gruelling Harrison Flats where the bunch became extended. – Sapa