21-Year old Barbertonian excel in ultra-marathons
Mthethwa said he wished his next finishing time in the 2006 Comrades Marathon to be five hours and 40 minutes.
Put your money on Barberton Gijimas athlete Professor Mthethwa as a future Comrades Marathon champion – and you probably won’t have to wait long for a return.
The 21-year old Barbertonian athlete surprised many when he came in position 124 overall in a time of six hours, 54 minutes and 40 seconds in the recently Comrades. Mthethwa was the first athlete from Mpumalanga Lowveld to reach the finish.
“I had four months to prepare for the race and I expected it to be tough. But when I reached the finishing line I was still fine and I was surprised with my time. All thanks goes to my coach Butterfly Sibiya, who thoroughly prepared me for the race,” said Mthethwa, who is doing grade eleven at KaMhola High School in Emjindini.
His coach, Sibiya, said he had no doubt that Mthethwa was a Comrade Marathon champion in a making.
“If he remain level headed and have good coaching, he will achieve a lot in ultra-marathons,” said Sibiya.
Mthethwa said he wished his next finishing time in the 2006 Comrades Marathon to be five hours and 40 minutes.
This year’s winner Gift Kelehe claimed the race in time of 5:38:35sec.
Other athletes from Barberton Gijimas who participated and finished the race were Joram Sayiya (10:06:19); Clive de Beer (11:08:02); Kerrin Cocks (11:45:09) and Mathew Ngwenya (11:50:48).
