Carnival Runners take a Comrades gamble

It was the 2017 Comrades Marathon – a strenuous and punishing 86.73km up run journey on foot from Durban City Hall to Scottsville racecourse in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, June 4.

Brakpan was represented by the Carnival Runners club as well as by a sole runner, Willie Benade, from Brakpan Athletics Club.

Of the 18 Carnival Runners who signed up and entered the world’s oldest and longest ultra-marathon, only 13 managed to reach the final destination at Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg.

Xolani Bavuma was the first runner home from a Brakpan-based club.

The 32-year-old was the 692nd overall runner home out of the 17 031 who took on the Comrades Challenge.

Starting in the C start group, Bavuma ran a time of seven hours, 53 minutes and 38 seconds to earn a Bill Rowan medal (for finishers with a time between seven hours 30 minutes and nine hours).

Carnival’s Petros Mbokazi was the second local to cross the finish line in Maritzburg.

Mbokazi, who started in the A group, arrived at the finish at 1.49pm with a time of eight hours, 19 minutes and 27 seconds to win himself a Bill Rowan medal.

Thirty-six-year-old Lucky Seopela (who started in the B group) was the next to earn a Bill Rowan.

His time of eight hours, 42 minutes and 11 seconds was enough to secure the medal.

Zamani Eric Mbuyisa rounded off the Bill Rowan medals for the Carnival Runners.

The 38-year-old arrived at the Pietermaritzburg finish line at 2.11pm with a time of eight hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds to claim the last of the Bill Rowans for local runners.

Tseko Joseph Tsotetsi was the first from the club to achieve a bronze medal (nine hours to sub 11 hours).

The 52-year-old ran a time of nine hours and 49 seconds.

Nzima Johan Zikhali followed over an hour later with a time of 10.30.33 to win a bronze medal, while 50-year-old Donovan de Leeuw arrived exactly seven minutes later (a gross finishing time of 10 hours, 37 minutes and 33 seconds) to claim his bronze medal.

The first local woman home was Carnival Runners’ Marsha David (49).

She ran a time of 10 hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds to earn a well-deserved bronze medal and complete her seventh Comrades Marathon.

Setha Mhlambi wrapped up the bronze medal haul for Carnival Runners.

His time of 10 hours, 54 minutes and nine seconds ensured that he made the bronze medal cut-off by just under six minutes.

Sam Mokgotho achieved the first Vic Clapham medal (11 hours to sub-12 hours) for Carnival Runners.

The 55-year-old ran the race in a time of 11 hours, 28 minutes and five seconds.

He was followed mere minutes later by Muzi Honeyform Fakude (39), who completed the 86.73km trek in 11 hours, 30 minutes and 25 seconds to earn his Vic Clapham medal.

Stuurman Mnqobani (44) followed with a time of 11 hours 40 minutes and 59 seconds to get his Vic Clapham medal while Magda Botha became the second woman and final finisher from the club with her time of 11 hours, 50 minutes and 27 seconds.

What happened to Willie Benadie of Brakpan Athletics Club?

The only Comrades Marathon entrant from the local club just made the 12-hour cut-off.

The 54-year-old arrived at the Scottsville Racecourse finish line with 27 seconds to spare (a time of 11 hours, 59 minutes and 33 seconds) to claim a well-deserved Vic Clapham medal.