The moment of truth for South Africa’s Hendrick Ramaala, Norman Dlomo, George Mofokeng, Bethuel Netshifhefhe and Zongamele Dyubeni is about to be realised.
On Saturday, the men’s marathon final at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan, takes place at 11pm South African time (7am in Osaka). Ahead of these runners lies 42,2km of hard tactical racing.
The men’s marathon is the first event of the 2007 Championships and could be the ideal time for South Africa to boost team morale with a medal. There are two races within one happening, as there is also the World Marathon Cup at stake over and above individual glory.
For South Africa’s team, it is also a chance to redeem themselves after none of the athletes who ran in 2005 in Helsinki finished the marathon.
That is simply not an option this time around, according to Dlomo, who believes that South Africa have a very good chance of medalling in the team event. The times of the runners are added up for a combined time and this will determine who wins the World Marathon Cup team title. Quite a bit is at stake in the team competition as the winning team share $20 000 in prize money.
Dlomo and the rest of the team will not have it easy. The route is fast and flat with only two climbs on the out and back route. This does not mean, however, that the times are going to be fast; in fact, world championship marathons are races of attrition rather than fast times, as no pace makers are running unlike in the big city marathons.
Running on home soil, Japan should be favourites for the team title, but will expect stiff competition from Ethiopia, Kenya, Spain and South Africa.
Dlomo revealed that the team had discussed tactics already and would be looking to run together for as long as possible.
He is also very confident that a South African could be up on the podium. On paper that should be Ramaala who not only has one of the fastest times in the field (2:06:55, London 2006) but is also an incredibly wily campaigner.
Ramaala (35) has two individual silver medals behind his name in the World Half Marathon Championships, and is frequently in the top five of the major city marathons.
The biggest danger to Ramaala and South Africa’s ambitions has to be Jaouad Gharib of Morocco. Gharib has won back-to-back world marathon titles and will make history should he win his third consecutive title on Saturday. The only other athlete who has won two marathon titles is Spain’s Abel Anton, who won in 1997 and again in 1999.
Ethiopia has also entered a quality team, as have the Japanese who will get staunch support from the crowds lining the street.
Another South African who could be in the mix is Two Oceans champion Bethuel Netshifhefhe. The tough nature of the world championships will probably suit him more than any of the other South African athletes. Like the Two Oceans, this will indeed be a race of attrition which suits his style of racing down to a tee.
However, if the pace is fast, then Ramaala and Dlomo should really fancy their chances. — Sapa