COMRADES MARATHON – First SA Woman at 2013 Comrades

Charne Bosman, first South African woman to cross the finish line at the 2013 Comrades Marathon
Johannes Kekana & Charne Bosman of Bonitas Athletics Club take gold at the 2013 Comrades Marathon
 
Pietermaritzburg, 02 June 2013: Under the clear Pietermaritzburg skies but tough running conditions, Bonitas Athletics Club’s Charne Bosman and Johannes Kekana delivered a heartwarming performance achieving a rare double with both finishing 5^th in their respective categories and with gold to their names.
 
Comrades veteran Kekana finished in 5:46 hours while novice Bosman became the first South African woman to cross the line finishing in 6:53 hours.
 
Joseph Ikaneng, Manager, Bonitas Athletics Club said, “Both Bosman and Kekana have done the Club extremely proud. A lot of preparation has gone into getting the team ready on a journey to building a dominant team not only at the Comrades but on the road running scene.”
 
Starting with the legendary Nurgalieva twins – Bosman outclassed her peers in what was a tough uphill race from Durban with notorious gradients made tougher by the hot and humid weather conditions. Despite being a novice, Bosman showed steely character and resilience throughout the race to win the gold.
 
Placed 5^th amongst the elite ladies, Bosman said, “It is a great feeling to win the gold in my first Comrades.”
 
Teammate Mokgadi Haramanse finished in 5:59 hours to claim a Wally Hayward Medal.
 
“The Bonitas team gave an outstanding performance and we couldn’t be happier with today’s achievements. Such results only strengthen our resolve to continue to invest in promoting events that support active lifestyles,” says Dr Bobby Ramasia, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund.
 
Over 17 000 runners took to the streets of Durban on the 87Km race to Pietermaritzburg. 
 
Bonitas Athletics Club fielded 14 elite runners for the 2013 edition of the Comrades Marathon and consisted of Charne Bosman, Tshifhiwa Mundalamo and Ntobesentu Mfunzi who formed the elite women runners contingent. The male elite runners include stalwarts Johannes Kekana, Mokgadi Haramanse, Odwa Tunyiswa, Peter Muthubi, Eric Ngubane, Mbongeni Ngxazozo, Mzwanele Maphekula, Charles Tjiene and Michael Mazibuko.
 
The team underwent vigorous training to prepare for the Comrades Marathon under the leadership of athletics legend Joseph Ikaneng, himself a triple gold medal winner at the Comrades Marathon. 

Source: COMRADES MARATHON