ZITHANDE ATHLETES QUALIFY FOR COMRADES MARATHON

MBABANE – Zithande Athletics Club athletes did the country proud by qualifying for next year’s Comrades Marathon after finishing within the stipulated six-hour time at the Mandela Marathon in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

The first Comrades Marathon took place on May 24, 1921, Empire Day, starting outside the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg with 34 runners.
It has continued since then every year with the exception of the war years 1941-1945, with the direction alternating each year between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, the so called up and down runs.

Zithande Athletics Club founder Nsizwa Thwala confirmed that the Swazi convoy did well to qualify for the Comrades Marathon and that the upcoming Soweto Marathon will serve as a preparation for the athletes.

surprised

“I was surprised by the athletes with the first group consisting of Sandile Shongwe, Lucky Shongwe, Setsabile Dlamini and Mandisa Nhlabatsi being the first to arrive after 4:52 hours in the full marathon (4 202km). Zipho Dube, Happy Mthethwa and Vusi Mamba finished after 5:30 hours in the other group.

“The other athletes ran individually and all made the cut. The full results are yet to be released by the Mandela Marathon organisers. What was key is that we taught the athletes how to run as a group and that is to be in a disciplined race,” he said.      
Entries for next year’s Comrade Marathon will be open from today. All runners are required to submit their qualifying race and time no later than May 2, 2016. The race is run under the auspices of IAAF, ASA, KZNA and CMA.

The 2016 Comrades Marathon will be limited to a maximum of 23 000 athletes and the race will be run on Sunday, May 29, 2016 starting at 5.30am and finishing at 5.30pm. The race distance is approximately 90 km.

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