Thrills and spills galore
The 91st edition of the world's biggest ultramarathon, the Comrades Marathon, yesterday was never going to be complete without a landmark being set - and a monumental collapse. David Gatebe, 35, and Charné Bosman, 41, held the South African flag high with their respective wins in the 89km run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.With his time of 5:18:19, Gatebe obliterated Leonid Shvetzov's 2007 down-run record of 5:20:39 with an ease that belied its nasty nature. Bosman won in a time of 6:25:55.Gatebe, an Implats sports recreation officer, said he did not have the record in mind but knew it was there for the taking when he found strength in the last 35km."I know the race was very difficult and the competition was tough, but, when I got to the last 35km, I felt I could break the record because it is owned by a Russian and needed to return to a South African."When I got to the 35km mark, that's when I knew I could go for the record. When I passed Teboho Sello, I started to believe the record was there for the taking - then I saw the time on the car," Gatebe saidThe nature of the visually easy but physically demanding course played itself out during Caroline Wostmann's dramatic meltdown in the last 10km.Having burnt her way through most of the race, her legs imploded after she completed the Field's Hill descent in Pinetown.At 45th Cutting her legs gave in and could not carry her . So weak were her limbs, she collided with the accompanying motorbikes just past the 10km mark in Sherwood, nearly causing an accident. It was a messy foretaste of the drama that was to follow.She tried her best through the final stretch of the N3, but behind her Bosman could smell blood.Spurred on by a vociferous crowd in the last 10km, Bosman strode past Wostmann in the CBD and streaked to Kingsmead while a shocked Wostmann could only despair.Bosman found extra gas to finish the race powerfully and claimed her first title in the process. Had stronger finishers like Eleanor Greenwood and the Nurgalieva twins been able to take part, the women's race could have had a different conclusion.Wostmann finished in 6:30:44 while Kajsa Berg from Sweden rounded off the women's top three in a time of 6:39:04...
There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.
From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.
For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.
Already subscribed? Sign in below.
Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.