Kasu predicts good Comrades after success at Springs Striders Race

The Springs Striders Race on January 19 provided the perfect platform for Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) elite runner Paul Kasu to test his fitness as he enters the next phase of his Comrades Marathon training.

Kasu finished the men’s 32km race in fifth place in 01:55:24, behind winner Thabo Masina, whose victory came in 01:49:06. Veteran Given Baloyi crossed the line six seconds later for runner-up honours and defending champion Mandla Mahlangu finished third in 01:50:28.

Retshepile Khotle finished fourth in 01:54:55 with Kasu completing the top five 01:09 later.

“It’s the beginning of the year. I’m fit as we start training for the Comrades. It was a nice because it’s a flat race. But it took more out of me because I had to work throughout. I only got some assistance on the decline towards the finish. But these are challenges we need,” he said.

This was the perfect tester for Kasu, especially after starting last year with injuries that affected his Comrades preparation.

It set the tone for what’s lying ahead and the athlete is confident that barring no injuries, he will better his down-run PB of 06:37:25 achieved in the 2023 race when he finished 177th overall.

“I’m going to run at Om Die Dam ultra on March 15 and will run another 42.2km in the lead-up to Comrades. I’m going to give Comrades my best. I’ve started the year without injuries compared to last year. I just need to work on it and trust the programme.”

Blue and white

There was a sea of blue and white as BAC runners came out in numbers to support the Springs Striders in one of Gauteng’s iconic races.

Felix Banda completed the men’s 32km 13th overall and eighth in the senior category after crossing the line in 02:09:05.

Brian Wahlstrom was second in the grandmaster men’s race in 02:47:38 with Zacharia Mogotsi sixth in 03:00:43. Rita van Wyk was the third grandmaster woman at the finish after crossing the line in 03:08:16.

Wynand Strydom finished eighth in the master men’s category in 02:33:54.

David Gamede was the first Boksie across the finish line in the 15km race. He completed the top 10 and was the first grandmaster home in 58:23.

Christina Silale grabbed the fourth spot in the women’s race in 01:02:49 and led a contingent of four BAC athletes in the veteran women’s top five, with Brigitte O’Connor second in 01:15:18 and Sheree Rogers (01:20:17) and Bronwyn Strydom (01:23:18) fourth and fifth, respectively.

Suzette Meyer was seventh in the senior women category while Teresa Peyerl, Jennifer Rogers and Elizabeth Tshabalala were in the top 10 in the grandmasters women’s race.

Johan Meyer (01:03:13) and Hilton Hosmer (01:08:39) were fourth and sixth in the veteran men’s race.

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