North Coast Comrades runners bring home the silverware

Thousands of runners set off at dawn on Sunday to conquer the 89th edition of the Comrades marathon.

The downhill run saw Zululand’s Bongumusa Mthembu become the first KZN runner to win the race in fourteen years.

70 local athletes from the Dolphin Coast Striders, Tongaat Panthers Athletics, KwaDukuza AC and Mandeni Harriers made their way to Pietermaritzburg to take on the oldest ulra-marathon in the world.

Two speedy gonzales stood out from the crowd, clocking up impressive times.

Thembile Qhanqiso(46) from Shayamoya and Thembinkosi Nxumalo from Shakashead were the first locals to cross the finish line, receiving silver medals.

Since running his first Comrades in 2006 Qhanqiso (46) has never returned home without a silver around his neck (that is nine silvers).

The Tongaat Panthers Athletics Club runner finished with a time of 6 hours, 55 minutes and 24 seconds.

Nxumalo, who is a member of the Dolphin Coast Striders, finished in 6 hours, 51 minutes and 35 seconds, collecting his third silver medal.

“This was my best Comrades performance so far,” said Nxumalo.

Part of their secret to success is that both competitors run to work to keep fit.

Qhanqiso works in Tongaat and he trained three days a week. He usually runs the 18,5km journey to work in an hour and 10 minutes.

Both runners told the Courier that they had some difficulty on their way to the finish line.

“About seven kilometres from the end I began to feel tired and it got worse when I only had two kilometres to go. I had chest and muscle pains,” said Qhanqiso.

Qhanqiso said he poured cold water over his body, which relieved the pain and allowed him to finish.

Nxumalo also had to push through his pain barrier to finish the epic race.

“After four kilometres I fell and hurt my knee. I was helped by other athletes. I could have done better,” said Nxumalo.

Qhanqiso plans to run his 10th marathon next year but said it will be his last.

“I said this year would be my last but I will run again next year, so who knows what the future will hold?”

Comrades Marathon 2014 results:

Dolphin Coast Striders

Thembinkosi Nxumalo 6:51:35

Vulindlele Zweni 7:18:48

Mfanafuthi Manhique 7:28:25

Sipho Shologu 7:42:23

Siboniso Mpanza 8:06:43

Lihle Gema 8:22:18

Sibusiso Jali 8:22:18

Warwick Taylor 8:25:17

Robert Magagula 8:25:31

Njabulo Khetshane 8:27:53

Bongani Bhengu 8:41:17

Shannon Clark 8:46:05

Jaco De Vries 8:46:06

Janine Goes 10:05:52

Nikola Ramsden 10:16:13

Alfred Mthembu 10:16:19

Phillemon Sithole 10:16:30

Benjamin Kilian 10:20:11

Michelle Hall-Jones 10:31:41

Bianca Harris 10:32:18

Sarah Swainson 10:40:18

Laurence Longden-Thurgood 10:40:18

Belinda Bolte 10:42:00

Mthembeni Dlamini 10:44:01

Bradley Allen 10:57:45

Jean Blignaut 10:58:47

Claire Black 11:03:27

Bernard Louise 11:12:04

Gary Henwood Fox 11:17:22

Lauren France-Brotherton 11:22:38

Alastair Fagg 11:23:36

Debbie Fagg 11:23:36

Michael Mchugh 11:30:49

Andrew Cottrell 11:31:30

Sizwe Mpanza 11:31:30

Zakhe Mbhamali 11:34:38

Thyayagaraj Ram Naidoo 11:45:35

Pierre Burger 11:46:39

Funokwakhe Mkhize 11:46:51

Tongaat Panthers AC

Thembile Qhanqiso (184) 6:55:24

Bongiinkosi Biyela (653) 7:43:21

Xolile Bixi (667) 7:44:26

David Mzobe 8:26:26

Khetha Shangase (3187) 9:37:07

Devandran Reddy 9:47:24

Strini Moodley 9:52:20

Siphiwe Msomi 10:04:43

Terrence Zulu 10:14:44

Zainul Shaik 10:43:49

Sajhida Abdool 10:43:49

Mervyn Govender 10:50:48

Zandile Mtshali 11:46:27

Vinodachandra Gowda 11:49:36

Nickey Pillai 11:51:37

Avinesh Seetharam 11:59:02

Johannes Dindi 11:59:06

Alagesan Pillay 11:59:13

KwaDukuza AC

Phakamani Ngema (2064) 8:54:00

Thuthukani Ntuli 9:33:35

Danny Sewmungal 10:41:48

Jaibalan Soobramoney 10:52:49

Dipchand Moodley 11:16:19

Jairaj Ramnath 11:28:50

Zibongile Ndlovu 11:45:36

Yathin Narothum 11:53:34

Thulani Zungu 11:54:10

Pradeev Dhora 11:56:41

Mandeni Harriers

Siphamandla Gibson Ndlovu 9:29:24

Richard Marthinus 9:43:58

Thokozani Mdletshe 9:47:03

Innocent Ndlovu 10:21:28

Amos Khumbu Ntombela 10:32:41

Thulubuka Mntungwa 10:55:48

Thimothy Mvula 11:07:58

Mbhekeni Mazibuko 11:17:32

Lucas M Buthelezi 11:17:32

Raymond Nkwanyana 11:28:38

Daniel Mdlalose 11:37:56

Mduduzi Jeffrey Dladla 11:50:34

Patrick Zulu 12:02:38