Johan sets sights on Capital Classic Six Day Circuit Race
With 12 standard 100-mile races, four 24-hour races and a couple of multi-day events behind his back, Johan van der Merwe set his sights on the Capital Classic Six Day Circuit Race
POLOKWANE – With 12 standard 100-mile races, four 24-hour races and a couple of multi-day events behind his back, Johan van der Merwe set his sights on the Capital Classic Six Day Circuit Race.
The race took place in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday, 19 September at 09:00. With a personal best of 516 km in the six-day event, Johan set his sights on not only beating his personal record, but also the South African record of 815 km set by Eric Wright in 2001.
Johan won the Capital Classic 100-miler race in both 2013 and 2014 and he said it is very important for him to claim the win again.
“It was going to be a challenge because it would entail completing the 100-mile race against athletes that entered to only compete in the 100-miler, unlike me who still had to continue for the six-day event,” Johan said.
He completed his initial goal of claiming the win when he passed the 100-mile mark first with a time of 16:40:05, almost three hours ahead of the other competitors.
After this feat, he quickly surpassed his personal best six-day distance of 516 km, sights now focused on beating the record.
Johan stopped at the 815 km mark with more than two hours left in the event. “I stopped when I equaled the record out of respect for Eric, who was present at the event,” Johan explained.
The athlete in second place, Kobi Oren from Israel, who was 15 km behind Johan at the time, ran 818 km, setting Israel’s six-day record.
“I have proved all I need to prove to myself. I have immense respect for Eric, everything he has done for ultra-distance running in South Africa and for his performances. There will be another time to go further; right now I am proud to be able to equal his fantastic record, that is enough for me.” said Johan.
