Runners fly city’s flag high at Comrades

POLOKWANE – Ludwick Mamabolo, Rufus Photo, Latudi Makofane and Martinique Potgieter held Polokwane’s name high at the Comrades Marathon in Durban on Sunday.

Mamabolo took second place overall, finishing the race in a time of 5:33:14, only 4:41 behind the winner, Bongmusa Mthembu.

Mamabolo started the race in 49th position at 06:36 that morning, and with a steady pace, climbed to the eighth position at the 58km mark at Winston Park. He kept passing runners until the 82,28km mark at Mayville, where he was in second position, and completed the full 89.25km race just after 11:00 that morning.

Photo was the first runner from Pietersburg Road Runners to cross the finish line. Photo secured fifth place overall only minutes after Mamabolo in a time of 5:35:30.

Makofane from Samancor Chrome Marathon Club based in Burgersfort took 10th place overall in a time of 5:40:41.

In the women’s category, Potgieter, also from Pietersburg Road Runners, took ninth place overall in a time of 7:00:46. Potgieter was the third South African woman to cross the finish line, reaching the end of the 89km race only five minutes after legendary runner, Zola Budd Pieterse.

Athletes from Pietersburg Road Runners and Polokwane Athletic Club who finished the race in less than nine hours:

• Sabata Motjale – 6:45:23.

• Johan van der Merwe – 6:46:42.

• Calvin Malatji – 7:10:14.

• Phuti Mohale – 7:20:48.

• Alfred Ngoasheng – 7:25:16.

• Matime Mashabela – 7:29:28.

• Pieter Pretorius – 7:29:36.

• Pelly Lamola – 7:31:01.

• Jeffrey Nkuna – 7:48:36.

• Makebe Ledwaba – 7:49:58.

• Matome Kubjana – 7:50:37.

• Frans Mabotja – 7:50:51.

• Makwena Semono – 8:30:47.

• Maropeng Mojela – 8:32:18.

• Pearl Hughes – 8:33:58.

• Segoati Mahlangu – 8:35:01.

• Mphasoa Maruma – 8:38:37.

• Jonas Fabo – 8:39:57.

• Percy Magomo – 8:43:52.

• Colinda Potgieter – 8:43:50.

• Alpheus Moshokwa – 8:50:46.

• Lesiba Molomo – 8:55:17.

• Abedico Tjie – 8:58:20.