Born-and-bred Malalaner George Kusche (26) did the Onderberg town proud when he claimed 12th place in the 98th Comrades Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday, June 8.

Kusche was the first novice to finish the 2025 Comrades.

The Laerskool Malelane alumnus completed the 89.98km race in 05:41:23.

Now a resident of Pretoria and running for Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North, Kusche was in ninth place at the top of Polly Shorts, but dropped to 27th place at the Cato Ridge split (30.5km).

In the next 24.5km he made up 23 places and went through the halfway point at the Drummond split (45km) in fourth place.

By the time he went through the Pinetown split he had dropped to 14th, but made up two places over the final 21km to finish 12th overall and eighth in the senior men’s category. His average pace was 00:03:48 per kilometre.

Kusche grew up in Malalane, and completed Grade Seven at Lanies in 2011, after which he attended Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool.

“I look back at my childhood in Malalane with fond memories. I still have lifelong friends from those days. Laerskool Malelane is an excellent school. We walked to school barefoot and played touch rugby at break time,” Kusche said.

At primary school he competed in athletics and rugby and he represented the Mpumalanga U12 rugby team.

At Affies he only made the F rugby team and decided to concentrate on athletics and cross-country. He qualified for the Junior World Athletics Championships, competing in the 800m with a time of 01:47.

After high school he moved to the United States to study, where completed a BS in Actuarial Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2021, and MS in Statistics from Northern Arizona University in May, 2023.

ALSO READ: Halls parkrun crosses 500-event milestone with 278 participants

While studying he competed in track and cross-country at NCAA D1 level, the highest US university level. He returned to South Africa in 2023 and is currently pursuing the Actuarial Society of South Africa’s board exams.

He had a nine-month break from athletics and decided to move to road running as it is easily accessible. “All you need is a road and a pair of running shoes,” he said.

“I started with a few 10km races and soon moved on to half-marathons. I have only run one 42.2km, the 2024 Cape Town Marathon, in which I qualified for the Comrades with a time of 02:20:00.”

His first and only other ultra was the Irene 48km in March which he won in 02:50:05.

“The Comrades is such a significant cultural event in South Africa. I wanted to run it; be part of that hype and excitement. I knew I was in good shape but my longest run before the Comrades was 55km training session, so I had no idea how I would feel after, say, 70km. So my plan was to stick myself in the leading group and let fate lead the way. It worked well but my legs were completely fried from the downhills with 20km to go. I could hold on at least, and I figured I would not be the first or last person to hang tough in the last 20km in the Comrades. Crossing the finish line was a relief as my legs were wrecked by then.”

With the quick move from track to marathons and ultras, Kusche has realised he has the talent, and has always had the hard work ethic, to be among the best in this marathon.

“I want to concentrate on the Comrades for the next 15 years. I believe I will be better on the up-run because I am bigger and taller than most of the top runners. On the uphills on Sunday I felt really good, but the downhills got my legs. I am only 26 so I have a long future in Comrades,” he said.

A total of 254 other Lowvelders crossed the 2025 Comrades marathon finish line.

The first Lowveld resident to complete the 2025 Comrades was Professa Mthethwa. The Bella’s Athletic Club member finished 22nd overall and 16th in the senior male category in 05:50:24.

The City of Mbombela Marathon Club’s Sikhulile Mavuso finished 178th overall and 98th in the senior male race in 06:45:49. Chris Schutte of Nedbank LVCC clocked 06:55:46 and was the 246th overall and 132nd in the senior category.

The first female Lowvelder across the finish line in Durban was Segwana Virginia Tladi of Bella’s. She was 74th overall and 41st in the senior category in 07:48:02.

Wendy Bosch of the City of Mbombela Marathon Club was the second Lowveld woman to finish. Her time of 08:27:54 earned her 143rd place overall and 55th place in the senior race.

Other first Lowvelders:
Male 40 to 49
Lovers Hlatshwayo (Nedbank LVCC) – Category 126th; overall 318th in 07:03:57
Male 50 to 59
Moris Maiga (private) – Category 17th; overall 1 357th in 06:56:13
Male 60-69
Jerry Maseko (Nedbank LVCC) – Category 63rd; overall 4 371st
Female 40 to 49
Ziphindile Dlamini (Correctional Services MP) – Category 60th; overall 154th in 08:30:55
Female 50 to 59
Sibongile Mthunywa (Nelspruit Marathon Club) – Category 79th; overall 812th place in 10:00:58
Female 60 to 69
Sandy Mclagen (Nedbank LVCC) – Category 36th; overall 1 901st in 11:08:53.