In Wally’s steps
Johan van der Merwe, an ultra long distance athlete from Pietersburg Road Runners, improved a 60-year-old South African record for a 24-hour race when he competed in the Soochow Ultra Marathon in Taipei on Saturday.
Photos: Supplied
POLOKWANE – Johan van der Merwe, an ultra long distance athlete from Pietersburg Road Runners, improved a 60-year-old South African record for a 24-hour race when he competed in the Soochow Ultra Marathon in Taipei on Saturday.
He also set a new Africa record in the process.
Van der Merwe said during the last hour or so of the race, he struggled as the endurance marathon really started to sap his energy.
“Out of respect for Madiba I competed in Taipei in the colours of our South African flag.
“During the last hour I was really struggling to cope with the extreme exhaustion, but I said to myself South Africa is in mourning.
“I will complete this race to honour Nelson Mandela.
“I would like to carry this achievement over to him as a sign of respect to this great man,” Van der Merwe said.
Van der Merwe is passionate about his sport and has a “never give up” attitude that makes him perfect for this kind of race.
Some 60 years ago, the legendary Wally Hayward set the South African record of 256 040 km in 24 hours that Van der Merwe broke by running 258 064 km in 24 hours.
Although van der Merwe did not win the race, he finished a very respectable third overall.
“The competition was really tough. Conditions were very windy, which of course was not ideal when chasing down a record.
“The track was also very crowded, which also hampered my progress a bit.
“To me it is a big relief to eventually succeed in breaking Hayward’s record,” Van der Merwe said.
Van der Merwe plans on going back to Taipei to try and do even better next year.
