#Comrades2025: McGregor and Pretorius stride to fourth consecutive silvers

Shane McGregor and Nico Pretorius grabbed their fourth consecutive Comrades Marathon silver medals to lead the Benoni Northerns Athletic Club’s (BNAC) charge in the down-run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on June 8.

McGregor and Pretorius, along with Elias Kope and Darren Zabielski, were the BNAC’s silver medalists, while Pretorius earned his green number for successfully completing his 10th race.

Dijana and Steyn victorious

Tete Dijana beat Piet Wiersma in another close race to win his third Comrades Marathon, while South Africa’s ultra-distance queen, Gerda Steyn, claimed her fourth Comrades title.

The Nedbank Running Club duo almost replicated their sprint finish from the 2023 down-run. But this time, down-run record holder Dijana ran a tactical race to hold off defending champion Wiersma, who made a late charge, to take the tape in 05:25:28

Wiersma crossed the line five seconds off the pace in 05:25:33 for second place, and Nikolai Volkov claimed the last podium position in 05:29:42.

Steyn continued her dominance with another masterclass to win her third consecutive Comrades.

She crossed the finish line in 05:51:19, which was 06:25 off her down-run lifetime best of 05:44:54, achieved in 2023 when she broke former BNAC top runner Frith van der Merwe’s 34-year-old record.

Nedbank’s Alexandra Morozova clocked 05:55:56 for second place as two women finished within six hours. Kenyan debutant Shelmisth Muriuki completed the podium in 06:07:56.

BNAC

The BNAC once again led the Benoni charge as a total of 151 runners completed the 89.98km race out of 174 starters.

The club earned four silver, 21 Bill Rowan, 19 Robert Mtshali, 50 bronze, and 57 Vic Clapham medals, with Pretorius, William Nkosi, and Keven Williams earning their green numbers.

McGregor clocked 06:48:50 to become the club’s first athlete at the finish. He was 35:23 off his down-run lifetime best of 06:13:27 from the 2023 down-run. This year’s race was expected to produce slower times, as it covered 89.98km — about 2km more than the previous down-run.

Pretorius followed McGregor in 07:11:07, while Kope earned his second consecutive silver medal in 07:23:05, following his debut last year. Zabielski clocked 07:29:54 for his silver.

Jolinda du Plessis was the first female BNAC finisher, arriving at the People’s Park outside Moses Mabhida Stadium in 08:27:46. Debutant Alison de Bruin followed in 08:37:53, and Alexandra Westner completed the club’s top three in 08:38:36.

Benoni Harriers

Armstrong Khoza earned his double green number with a Bill Rowan medal. He clocked 08:54:20, becoming the club’s first athlete at the finish.

Amelda Holt clocked 11:07:28 to become the club’s first female finisher in Durban, while Lizette Whittington earned a back-to-back medal.

Of the 16 Harriers runners at the start in Pietermaritzburg, 13 finished. Overall, the club collected two Bill Rowan, two Robert Mtshali, two bronze, and seven Vic Clapham medals.

Daveyton Hearts

The club had 10 starters but eight finished the race, earning the club one Robert Mtshali, five bronze and two Vic Clapham medals.

Benoni High Athletic Club

Desmond Phillips was the club’s only representative. He completed his ninth Comrades in 09:21:28 for a Robert Mtshali medal.

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Also Read: #Comrades2025: Benoni Harriers’ Khoza to earn green number