XJ AC shines at Comrades Marathon

The XJ Athletic Club (XJ AC) from the rural town of Emaxesibeni continues to grow from strength to strength.

The club made its presence felt at this year’s Comrades Marathon, where more than 23 000 runners tackled the Ultimate Human Race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The event was won by Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn.

XJ AC proudly fielded a team of 35 runners, including five women – a significant achievement as all members successfully completed the gruelling race.

Last year, the club entered just 19 runners, with only one woman athlete. This year’s growth marks a major milestone for the club, which is fondly known as the Pink Drive.

XJ AC secretary general Mawanda Mpithi said the club has made impressive strides since it was formed in 2018.

“This is a huge accomplishment for us, especially considering we had to pause for two years during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Mpithi.

“We are grateful for the support of our families and the community. It’s not just about growing in numbers – we are also producing quality athletes. Next year, we plan to return even stronger and with more runners.”

One of the standout performances came from Vakele Jamile, who finished in 6:29:08, securing a place among the elite batch of runners.

“Vakele’s performance, along with several of his teammates, shows the calibre of athletes we are developing at XJ AC,” added Mpithi.

The club is quickly gaining recognition and is set to become a force to be reckoned with on the athletics circuit.

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