Potties-athletes take on, beat the Comrades

Not only did 10 members of the Potties-Athletic Club tackle the notorious 89 km Comrades Marathon last Sunday, but they stepped over the finish line as winners when all of them completed the daunting race within the 12-hour cut-off time.

June 3, 2016

Jolandi Fourie 1 minute read

Novices Khatija Essack and Fairial Hoosen prouldy show off their medals.

MOKOPANE – For more than half of the group it was their first time running the world’s biggest ultra-marathon, but for Sarie Coetzee it was her 20th time running the race and thus she obtained her prestigious green number.

A Green number (permanent number) is awarded in perpetuity to participants who have managed the feat of successfully completing 10 Comrades Marathons.

Khatija Essack, Fairial Hoosen, Aubrey Baloyi, Annemarie Kruger and Tsego Josephine Khaolelo were among the 7 000 novices who participated in what has come to be known as South Africa’s ultimate human challenge.

Estelle Geerkens, James Winch, Cecilia Ferreira and Lukas Khalo have stepped over the 89 km finishing line more than once.

Khalo achieved his back-to-back medal and he thanks Simon Baloyi from Khazamula Construction and Civils for their kind award.

A back-to-back medal is given to all novice runners who run a ‘down’ and an ‘up’ Comrades Marathon back-to-back in subsequent years.

Khatija told Bosveld: “It still feels surreal. I have always dreamed of running the comrades and the experience was even better than I imagined. I already have my eye on a back-to-back medal in 2017.”