Moshiywa, Nurgalieva win Comrades

Published Jun 2, 2013

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Johannesburg – Claude Moshiywa broke the foreign stranglehold on the Comrades Marathon “up” run in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, and Russian Elena Nurgalieva extended her dominance with her eighth victory in the women's event.

Moshiywa, who was third in 2011 and ninth last year, stormed clear in the last third of the 86km race to become the first South African to win the “up” run in 21 years.

He took the lead from countryman Johannes Kekana after four hours on the road, and charged ahead in warm conditions to secure a historic victory in 5:32:08.

The last South African to win the men's “up” run was Jetman Msutu in 1992.

Zimbabwean Moses Njodzi, who won the Two Oceans Marathon in 2006, emerged as the first real contender, opening a one-and-a-half minute lead at the halfway mark, as he charged through Drummond in two hours, 40 minutes.

Njodzi faded quickly, however, struggling up the steep Inchanga climb in the early stages of the second half, and he was passed by Moshiywa, Kekana, Zimbabwean Mike Fokoroni and little known Rufus Photo.

Photo fell behind soon after, and Fokoroni held on for a few kilometres before he also dropped back, leaving the South African duo to break clear after more than three hours on the road.

Kekana, a former All Africa Games marathon champion, slowly slipped back, and Moshiywa was eventually left on his own with a little less than 25km remaining.

He fastened his grip on the race in the closing stages and crossed the finish line in Pietermaritzburg more than nine minutes clear of Sweden's Jonas Buud, who produced a strong finish to take second place.

Mpesela Ntlosoeu of Lesotho finished in third position, a further two minutes behind, and defending champion Ludwick Mamabolo was fourth. Kekana held on for fifth place.

Three-time champion Stephen Muzhingi, chasing his fourth win in five years, clinched the last gold medal in the men's race, crossing the line in 10th position in 5:52:37.

Nurgalieva, meanwhile, opened a one-minute gap on twin sister Olesya in the closing stages, winning the women's race for the eighth time in 11 years, and the fourth time in succession.

Another Russian, Irina Antropova, finished third, more than 16 minutes behind the siblings.

Novice Charne Bosman, the first South African woman home, was passed by Scotland's Joasia Zakrzewski in the finishing straight.

Zakrzewski grabbed fourth place in a sprint finish and Bosman was fifth. – Sapa

TOP 10

Men

1 Claude Moshiywa (SA) 5:32:08

2 Jonas Buud (SWE) 5:41:20

3 Mpesela Ntlosoeu (LES) 5:34:37

4 Ludwick Mamabolo (SA) 5:45:48

5 Johannes Kekana 5:46:26

6 Henry Moyo 5:46:51

7 Joseph Mphuthi 5:47:59

8 Mike Fokoroni (ZIM) 5:50:18

9 Rufus Photo (SA) 5:51:51

10 Stephen Muzhingi (ZIM) 5:52:37

WOMEN

1 Elena Nurgalieva (RUS), 6:27:09

2 Olesya Nurgalieva (RUS), 6:28:07

3 Irina Antropova (RUS), 06:44:36

4 Joasia Zakrzewski (RUS), 06:53:29

5 Charne Bosman (SA), 06:53:35

6 Marina Zhalybina (RUS), 06:56:55

7 Holly Rush (GBR), 07:04:21

8 Melanie Van Rooyen (SA), 07:08:09

9 Kerry Koen (SA), 07:15:07

10 Julanie Basson (SA), 7:21:02

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