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89. COMRADES MARATHON, SOUTH AFRICA – 1 JUNE 2014 – Bongmusa MTHEMBU and Ellie GREENWOOD
The usual heart-wrenching drama unfolded on the approaches to the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in the final stages of the 89th edition, an 89km "down" run from Pietermaritzburg City Hall to the coastal resort of Durban. After early contenders gong for the catch-sprint bonuses faded nearing halfway, the first serious contender to emerge in the men's race was seasoned Marathoner Gert Thuys.
But after taking the lead on the long hill approaching halfway, and completing what appeared to be a pre-planned change of footwear 3:15 into the race (c.54km), he stopped to walk several times. What had been a six-minute lead over Marko Mambo reduced to nothing by 62km. Mambo had been running ahead of the pack from as early as 30km, and was in turn hunted down, Cramping badly he was passed by the ever-diminishing pack as he lay on the side of the road at 67km.
Rufus Photo broke from the group just before, and took the lead with a half-marathon distance still to run. He built up a 30-second gap impressively quickly but Bongmusa Mthembu, emerging from the chasing trio, scooped him up with 17km to go. Five km later his lead over Gift Kelehe and two-time winner Stephen Muzhingi was approaching 3 minutes, Ludwick Mamabolo timed his finishing effort later and overtook the chasing pair, but Mthembu remained strong until the final few kilometres extending his winning margin to five minutes.
Not so for the Nurgalieva twins in the women's race. Olesya took the lead from her more favoured sister Elena late on in the race, and they held a nine-minute lead over any other rival with only 18km to run. Cramping and walking, Olesya appeared to wait for Elena to catch her in the hope of finding a shared momentum, but Ellie Greenwood, who later claimed to have felt terrible in the early stages, made up the gap and forged five-minute winning margin in the final few kilometres after entering Durban.
MEN:
1 Bongmusa MTHEMBU RSA 5:28:34
2 Ludwick MAMABOLO RSA 5:33:14
3 Gift KELEHE RSA 5:34:39
4 Stephen MUZHINGI ZIM 5:35:18
5 Rufus PHOTO RSA 5:35:30
6 Mncedisi MKHIZE RSA 5:36:06
7 Jonas BUUD SWE 5:38:17
8 Manoko William MOKWALAKWALA RSA 5:39:29
9 Prodigal KHUMALO ZIM 5:39:36
10 Latudi MAKOFANE RSA 5:40:41
1 Ellie GREENWOOD CAN 6:18:15
2 Elena NURGALIEVA RUS 6:23:18
3 Olesya NURGALIEVA RUS 6:24:51
4 Irina ANTROPOVA RUS 6:34:08
5 Jo MEEK GBR 6:47:02
6 Caroline WOSTMANN RSA 6:51:43
7 Zola Budd PIETERSE RSA 6:55:55
8 Frida SODERMARK SWE 6:57:33
9 Martinique POTGEITER RSA 7:00:46
10 Julanie BASSON RSA 7:02:50
Source: AIMSworldrunning.org
Durban – Bongmusa Mthembu won his maiden Comrades Marathon after clinching the 2014 “down run” title by a comfortable margin in Durban on Sunday.
The Nedbank runner, winner of three previous gold medals in one of the world’s most famous ultra marathons, crossed the line in a time of five hours, 28 minutes and 34 seconds (5:28.34).
He finished the 89.28km race over four minutes ahead of Ludwick Mamabolo, the defending “down run” winner from 2012 who recorded a time of 5:33.14.
Mthembu, from Bulwer just outside Pietermaritzburg in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, took the lead just before Cowies Hill – about 17km before the Kingsmead Stadium finish – and never looked back, finishing strongly on his way to claiming the R350 000 top-prize.
Gift Kelehe, brother of 2001 winner Andrew, came third in a time of 5:34.39 with three-time former champion Stephen Muzhingi (5:35.18) of Zimbabwe fourth, followed by countryman Rufus Photo (5:35.30) fifth.
Earlier, Joseph Mphuti took the lead at three-quarters of the way through the race after taking over from Gert Thys just before Pinetown on Sunday.
The South African, from the Toyota team, took over from Thys around Everton Road, having crossed the halfway mark outside the top 10 with a time of two hours, 46 minutes and 22 seconds (2:46:22).
Thys, the national marathon record holder, has since faded away badly and was even spotted walking with one shoe off with a little over 22km of the 89.28km still remaining to Durban.
British-born Canadian runner Eleanor Greenwood put up a strong performance to win the women’s race. – Sapa
Source: IOL Sports – The Mercury – Monday June 2, 2014
Durban – Briton Eleanor Greenwood broke the Russian stronghold on the Comrades Marathon by becoming the first athlete from outside eastern Europe in 11 years to win the race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday.
Bongmusa Mthembu also won his maiden title in the men’s race, after clinching the 'down run' title by a comfortable margin.
However, in one of the biggest reversals ever witnessed in the history of the race, Greenwood came from being close to eight minutes behind with around 18 kilometres remaining, to win in a time of six hours, 18 minutes and 15 seconds (6:18.15).
That gave the 35-year-old a handsome five minute and four second victory over legendary Russian Elena Nurgalieva (6:23.18), who was bidding to win a record ninth crown and equal the mark held by Bruce Fordyce.
Twin sister Olesya, a double former champion, came third in a time of a 6:24.51.
In the men's race, Nedbank runner Mthembu, winner of three previous gold medals in one of the world's most famous ultra marathons, crossed the line in a time of 5:28.34.
He finished the 89.28 kilometres race over four minutes ahead of Ludwick Mamabolo, the defending 'down run' winner from 2012 who recorded a time of 5:33.14.
Mthembu took the lead just before Cowies Hill – approximately 17 kilometres before the Kingsmead Stadium finish – and never looked back, finishing strongly on his way to claiming the R350,000 top-prize.
Gift Kelehe, brother of 2001 winner Andrew, came third in a time of 5:34.39 with three-time former champion Stephen Muzhingi (5:35.18) of Zimbabwe fourth, followed by another South African Rufus Photo (5:35.30) in fifth. – Sapa
Source: IOL Sports – The Mercury – Monday June 2, 2014
