Ho, Payne extend Midmar records

Favourite Chad Ho won a sixth consecutive Midmar Mile when he soared to a commanding victory in the race on Sunday.

Favourite Chad Ho won a sixth consecutive Midmar Mile when he soared to a commanding victory in the race on Sunday.

Published Feb 8, 2015

Share

Howick – Favourite Chad Ho won a sixth consecutive Midmar Mile when he soared to a commanding victory, while Great Britain’s Keri-Anne Payne won her eight title by an even bigger margin at Midmar Dam, near Howick, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on Sunday.

The 42nd edition of the race was delayed after the search for missing swimmer Tristan Dennis continued from early at daybreak until mid-morning.

The 30-year-old went missing on the first day of the world famous race.

However, Dennis was still not found and the search is expected to continue on Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, when the action did begin, South African opener water champion Ho was in sensational form. After one of the closest races in the history of the men’s race last year, the 24-year-old from Durban won with a 12 secs margin over Mark Meyer in perfect conditions.

His time of 17 mins and 4 secs (17:04) was over a minute quicker than 12 months ago as he convincingly beat Meyer (17:16).

Danie Marias (17:21) came in third position in the 1.6km dash, while Jordan le Clos (18:10), brother of Olympic sprint champion Chad, came fourth followed by Chris McGlynn (18:11).

In the women’s race Briton Payne bounced back from the disappointment of 12 months ago to smash the field by half a minute.

Her time of 17:35 was over 2 mins faster than last year’s winning time of 19:45.

Payne beat last double-defending champion, Ashley Twichell, to the finish after the American swam a time 18:05.

It enabled the champion to extend her record as the most successful female athlete in the history of the race.

The 27-year-old clinched her eighth title and stretched her mark further away from that of Natasha Figge, who won between 1990 and 1996.

Another American, Stephanie Peacock, came in a close third behind her compatriot with a time of 18:06.

Michelle Weber (18:12) was the first South African over the line in fifth place, with Brit Holly Hibbott (18:10) ahead of her in fourth. – Sapa

Related Topics: