GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — Every year many marathon athletes from in and around Graaff-Reinet participate in the yearly Comrades Marathon.

The Comrades Marathon is the world’s oldest and largest ultra-marathon run over a distance of approximately 90km between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.

This year saw nine members of the Graaff-Reinet Running Club competing in this gruelling race on Sunday, May 29.

Eric Foendien successfully crossed the finish line in a time of 7.52.23, followed by Jan Fick in a time of 8.10.22, Wayne Maspero (9.26.50), Steven Knowles (9.47.34), Japie Masimla (11.51.23), Gappie de Klerk (10.59.44), Tania Bodenstein (11.03.03) and Wybrand Marais (11.33.55).

The Comrades cut off times are one of the biggest contributing factors to the drama that unfolds every year at the Comrades Marathon.

From when the start gun gets fired at 5:30am outside the city hall in Pietermaritzburg, until it gets fired again at the finish line inside the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium, the ticking clock looms like the hangman’s noose. There are various points along the route that you need to make by specific times. If you do not reach these cut-off points within the required time, you will be asked to retire from the race.

Graaff-Reinet Running Club member Elise Steynberg was unfortunately cut off at the last point during the race with only 7 kilometres left to go.

All the athletes would like to extend a huge thank you to the Club as well as all the friends and family members who supported them in this endeavour.

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