South Africans shine in Comrades

SOUTH African Bongmusa Mthembu of the Arthur Ford Athletics Club has become one of an elite group of runners who have won back-to-back Comrades Marathons.

Mthembu, who has a Zululand connection as his son attends Grantleigh School, won the up run last year and this year finished the 90.184km down run in 5:26:34, more than eight minutes ahead of second-placed Joseph Mphuthi.

In the woman’s race, Ann Ashworth of the Massmart Athletics Club finished in 06:10:04, beating fellow South African Gerda Steyn by 5.31 minutes.

Report on local runners and more photographs in the Zululand Observer Weekender.