Local athletes show true grit in the Comrades

Every year many marathon athletes from in and around Burgersfort and Steelpoort participated in the yearly Comrades Marathon. This year quite a few locals who participated were from the Modikwa Marathon Club, Steelpoort Marathon Club, Dwars Rivier Marathon Club and Samancor Chrome Marathon Club.

Pastor Tienie van Wyngaard of the Methodist Church competed under the Steelpoort Marathon Club flag, and received a bronze medal, finishing in a time of 11:56:57. It was his first Comrades. “It was always a challenge I wanted to fulfill.

At halfway I realized six hours had already passed and it will be a race against time to finish. I had a lot of cramps during the run, which made it even more difficult to finish, but I did it.

I would like to thank my Almighty God who gave me all the strength I needed to accomplish it and also my wife, Marelize van Wyngaard who supported me during the whole process. I am now recovering and next year I will probably run again,” said Wyngaard.

Eric Mabelane, also of Steelpoort Marathon Club, completed his 20th

Comrades to receive his second green number. “I received my first badge in

2005 for 10 years of participating. This year I finished in a time of 11:54:30 and received a bronze medal,” said an elated Mabelane. He added that he had trained less than in previous years.

“I am always happy to compete, running the Comrades for 20 years is a great achievement. I believe if you are a South-African citizen, you must at least run the Comrades once in your life. I would also like to thank my sponsors, without them I would have never had the financial support to finish my 20th Comrades. For now, I am resting and still deciding if I will compete again next year,” added Mabelane.

The following athletes from Modikwa Marathon Club completed the ultra marathon: Ernst Leboko Noto (6:59:17), Peter Molapo (7:54:50), Jeffrey Tiyisela Nkuna (8:18:19), Herman Mooketsi Mogale (8:55:15), Justice Tiloane Phokane (8:57:36), Sonia Malekapu Makuoa (9:07:05), Adolph Boshego (10:06:29) and Albert Tutu Twala (10:47:08).

Surprise Makofane of the Samancor Chrome Marathon Club earned a 27th place at the Comrades.

Thapelo Maphori of the Middlepunt Athletic Club in Atok took part in his second Comrades this year, finishing in a time of 08:46:10. He received the Wally Hayward medal. Maphori finished his first Comrades in 2013, receiving a bronze medal.

“I run every day. I live to run. I will be competing again next year and willl speed up my training programme this year so that I will become stronger for next year’s Comrades. My goal for next year is to win gold or silver. Unfortunately, I need sponsors to be able to compete again. If there are any businesses that will be able to help me, they can contact me on 072-5140-170,” said Maphori.