Border’s Comrades times not as good as in previous years
The 2024 Comrades Marathon produced some amazing results through the field and enthusiasts will have been excited by the likes of Gerda Steyn, who remains an absolute phenomenon with her ongoing improvement of times, and the emphatic victories she has delivered recently have been outstanding.
The men’s race was not to fall to a South African this year, though it was quite close at the finish.
Three SA women and three men finished in the top 10 and the racing throughout remained interesting until the end in both fields.
From a Border perspective, results were not as encouraging as they were in 2023 and times not as good as they have been in past races.
Lulamile Daniels of Nedbank, who was placed second in the Border placings last year, finished one better in the absence of Mcoseleli Luyaba, who was first in 2023.
His time this year was 6:17:40, opposed to 6:13:54 on the down run. He did finish two positions up, however.
Xolile Mashicila of Overtakers was the next Border man home in 6:44.13, with Xolisa Ntombini of Chillie Runners third in 6:46:46.
Last year’s first-placed man recorded 6:03:50.
The women’s contingent was without last year’s winner, Caryn Lategan (7:19:04), Melanie Schemel second and Melanie Elsdon third in 2023.
The Daily Dispatch correctly identified the three favourites for this year and Nicole Thysse of Oxford Striders finished first Border woman in 8:34:16.
It was a third Bill Rowan medal for her, though the slowest of the three consistent attempts.
Karen Davis in her seventh Comrades had a few health scares on the run, but took stock of the situation and came through to finish second in Easy Equities Born2run colours.
Third was Carmen Schaefer of Nedbank, who had been second for much of the race. Their times were 9:18:28 and 9:24:44, respectively.
In the age groups, Mzoli Mpalala of Boxer ran his 10th consecutive Comrades in 8:13:13 to finish 13th in his age category.
His best Comrades was in 2018 when he ran 7:30:40, missing out on a silver medal by 41 seconds. All his races have delivered a Bill Rowan medal for under nine hours.
Meanwhile, a statistic which should motivate many was the performance of Charl Pienaar of Old Selbornians, who is at a higher threshold of the 60-69 age group.
In 1984, he ran his first Comrades in 9:29:22.
This year he summoned assistance with his preparation, not that he ever lacks conviction, and 40 years later ran a personal best by 19:23 in posting a time of 9:09:59.*