GEORGE SPORT - Comrades Marathon fever is running high in George.
In preparation for the big day, the Nedbank Running Club SWD held a Comrades send-off on Sunday 31 May for its contingent of 34 athletes participating in this year's 89.9km down run taking place between Pietermaritzburg and Durban on Sunday 8 June.
The team, made up of a good mix of experienced and novice athletes, is expected to bring home a solid medal tally, possibly ranging from silver to the Bill Rowan (07:30:00 to 08:59:59), the Robert Mtshali (09:00:00 to 09:59:59), bronze (10:00:00 to 10:59:59) and the Vic Clapham (11:00:00 to 11:59:59).
With 11 medals (nine silver) and a personal best time of 06:32, Kallie Burger is definitely an athlete to watch for another silver or even one of only a handful of coveted Wally Hayward medals awarded to men who finish outside of the top 10 but under six hours.
Selwyn Losper is the club's runner with the most medals. Of his 33, 18 are silver, and he will be in the hunt for number 34.
The man with lungs of steel, Selwyn Losper, who has a collection of 33 Comrades Marathon medals and is aiming for a 34th
Other highly experienced athletes include Jason Jaftha with 31, Eddie Mouton with 28, Una Saayman with 18 and Marali Olen with 16. Two runners, Robertha Storbeck and Frances Visser, are lining up for their 10th medal and will earn their permanent race numbers.
The seven novices in the team are Clayton Smither, Clyde Avontuur, Georgine Els, Heinrich Hagen, Mareli Janse van Rensburg, Melissa Burmeister and Robert Janse van Rensburg.
With this year's down run spanning an official distance of 89.98km, this will be the longest down run since 1971's 92km course.
The extension was brought about by the relocation of the finish line from Kingsmead Cricket Stadium to the new street finish outside People's Park. The move is expected to enhance the already legendary celebratory atmosphere as it can accommodate more spectators.
A whopping 22 000 athletes are expected at the start line, making this the largest ever field of down run participants. To manage these numbers, the race will feature a two-batch start for the first time ever.
While preserving cherished traditions like the rooster crow and playing of "Chariots of Fire", the new measure is aimed at improving safety and reducing congestion at the start line.
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