Unheralded Harmony Gold athlete Sipho Ngomane won the 80th running of the Comrades marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Thursday and at 23 years old became one of the youngest
Being Youth Day it was indeed a fitting win for the youngster who upset all the favourites in a time of 5:27:10, a little over three minutes slower than Bruce Fordyce’s 1986 record of 5:24:
The race set off in blustery conditions and it was three unknown runners from Liberty Nike who made the early running. Themba Lampane, Andries Masweu and Kleinbooi Kekana set a blistering pace ahead of the more fancied contenders.
However, the threesome started off to quickly and were caught halfway at Drummond by the chasing bus led by Claude Mosiywa, Ngomane just behind and Elias Mabane in third. Also in contention was Vladimir Kotov, defending champion Fusi Nhlapo, Andrew Kelehe and Russian Oleg Kharitonov.
But this is when Ngomane made his move and in the process split the pack. ”I knew I was going to win after halfway when I started kicking out,” said a triumphant Ngomane. ”The other guys were running too slow but at the same time my legs were getting tired.”
With Ngomane setting off into the distance Kelehe took up second position, with Kharitonov and Kotov biding their time further back.
”It was strange because nobody wanted to make a move,” said Kelehe.
Kharitonov and Kotov, however, working in tandem, hunted down Kelehe and caught him with 10km to go.
Kelehe managed to hold onto third ahead of Kotov with Nhlapo taking fifth.
The 47-year-old and three time ”up” champion, Kotov, and still seeking his first down win, felt that he overtrained this year.
”I think I made a mistake by running 1 021 kilometers in May. It was too much,” lamented the up-run record holder.
”But for my age I’m very happy with my time.”
With runner-up Kharitonov receiving medical attention, it was left to Kelehe and Nhlapo to share their missed chances with the media. ”I’m very happy with my position,” said Kelehe of his third place. ”But this guy,” he said pointing to Ngomane, ”was too far away today”.
Nhlapo, who was odds on favourite to defend his crown, said he lost the race at the halfway mark. His muscles also worried him during the race. ”After the halfway mark my left calf was worrying me, especially uphill,” complained Nhlapo. – Sapa