Oleg Kharitonov of Russia has won the 81st Comrades Marathon ”up run” from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Friday.
The 38-year-old captured his first Comrades Marathon in a time of five hours, 35 minutes, 16 seconds — nearly 10 minutes outside the record time of 5:25,33 set by Vladimir Kotov in 2000.
South Africa’s Brian Zondi (31) finished in second place with Kotov in third.
In the women’s race, Elena Nurgalieva won her third Comrades title and was followed home by Marina Bychkova in second and Tatyana Zhirkova in third.
Earlier compatriot Oleg Kharitonov ran out a comfortable winner of the men’s race. – Sapa