#Comrades2025: BAC’s Kasu smashes down run PB
He decked his Comrades lifetime best of 06:37:25 from the 2023 down run by 07:54.
Paul Kasu of Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) earned his fourth consecutive Comrades Marathon silver medal with an exceptional performance in the down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on June 8.
Kasu clocked 06:29:31 to become the first BAC athlete at the finish in Durban. He also shaved 07:54 off his PB of 06:37:25 from the last down run in 2023.
“I’m the happiest man right now. The race was fine. I was well prepared and everything went accordingly,” said Kasu.
While he experienced no discomforts on the route, Kasu said his wheels came off on the descent from Fields Hill into Pinetown, which is a significant point on the route – marking the transition from the uphill to the downhill portion of the down run.
“I was confident going into the race. I averaged 04:05/km but after 70km, I started slowing down. I believe I could have achieved a much better time. But overall, I’m happy.”
The runner’s Comrades improvement is without question. He debuted in 2022 with 07:19:39, before improving to 06:37:25 the following year. He finished last year’s up run in 06:53:37 before smashing his lifetime best on Sunday.
Having completed his third successive ultimate human race inside seven hours, the athlete believes he is on course to finishing the race inside six hours for his first Wally Hayward medal.
“The plan is to go for a sub-six hours next year,” he said.
Felix Banda joined Kasu as the only BAC silver medallists. He clocked 07:06:24 for his second silver. Isaac Mokgola finished the race in 07:31:58, missing a silver by 01:58.
Sexagenarian David Gamede was the club’s fourth athlete at the finish. He completed the race in 07:32:16. He was also the third grandmaster overall across the line.
Christina Silale was the BAC’s first lady. She clocked 08:16:04 for a Bill Rowan medal. Isabella Dicks was second in 08:53:45 and Sheree Rogers completed the club’s top three in 09:31:22.
Veteran runner Rita van Wyk was the seventh female grandmaster overall across the line. She clocked 10:07:29 for a bronze.
Overall, the BAC achieved two silver, 13 Bill Rowan, seven Robert Mtshali, 12 bronze and 17 Vic Clapham medals.
Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn were the overall winners.
Dijana won the men’s race in 05:25:28, crossing the line five seconds ahead of runner-up, Piet Wiersma, and third-placed, Nikolai Volkov, who crossed the line in 05:29:42.
Steyn cut the tape in 05:51:19 for her third successive Comrades. The 2022 winner, Alexandra Morozova, also crossed the line within six hours in 05:55:56. Kenyan Shelmisth Muriuki completed the podium in 06:07:56.
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