A day of setbacks and problems for Caroline Wöstmann became the day of  triumph for her friend and training partner, Charné Bosman.

This summarises the outcome of Sunday’s Comrades Marathon for Pretoria’s two road racing stars. Last year, it was Wöstmann who stunned the world with her performance when she easily won the Comrades from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.

Bosman had to settle with a second place last year. On a day of drama for these two sport stars from Pretoria, it was the other way around this year.

This time it was Wöstmann who had to deal with setbacks, while Bosman’s race worked out perfectly and she won the woman’s race in the 2016 Comrades marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban in a time of 6:25,49.

Despite her problems , Wöstmann showed courage and endurance to hang on in the last five kilometres to finally finish second in a time of 6:30.46.

The defending champion, who could have made history by winning South Africa’s two biggest ultra-marathons, the Comrades and the Two Oceans Marathons two years in a row, started well.

She had built up a huge lead over the other women in the first 60km of the race. However, her first setback came about 15km from the finish when her legs started cramping.
A few kilometres further she was involved in a freak episode when one of the motorcycles that transported race officials hit her and she almost fell.

About five kilometres from the finish she was struggling and it became clear that Bosman would catch and overtake her before the end.

Unlike the battling Wöstmann, Charné Bosman finished strongly and about two kilometres from the finish line she overtook her friend and training partner.

Bosman’s victory puts a cherry on top of the career of a remarkable athlete. She had paid her dues as far as running the Comrades is concerned.

In 2013, she finished fifth, but almost burned herself out before the end. In 2014, she collapsed during the race because of a dysfunctional thyroid. She was unconscious for a few minutes and had to ‘finish’ her race in an ambulance.

The former SA marathon champion had many other obstacles to overcome in her career. She fought more than once against disease and injury and this victory is the testimony of the former pupil of Hoërskool Eldoraigne’s character. She came back stronger after each setback.

* The men’s race was won by South Africa’s David Gatebe in a new record time of 5:18,19. Ludwick Mamabolo finished second in a time of 5:24.05, with Bongmusa Mthembu in third place with the clock on 5:26.39.