Pietermaritzburg – The phenomenal rise of ultra-marathon running sensation Caroline Wöstmann continued on Sunday as she became the first South African woman this millennium to win the Comrades Marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
The smiling Wöstmann blew away the field to finish in a time of 6 hours 12 minutes and 21 seconds on the extended 87.7km route. Had the route not been extended Wöstmann would have almost certainly broken the up run record of 6:09.
After storming to victory in the Two Oceans 56km ultra-marathon at the beginning of April, Wöstmann completed the rare double of winning both races in the same year.
The last time a local woman claimed bragging rights in the world’s most iconic
ultra-marathon was in 1998 when Rae Bisschoff triumphed.
Throughout the race, Wöstmann aged 32 used her economical style and in parts used a
strategic walk to recharge.
At the five-hour mark, Wöstmann took a 30 second break in a portable toilet as the alarm bells started ringing, but within moments she was back on the road striding at good pace.
Wöstmann first showed signs of what was to come when she finished sixth in the 2014 race and was the first South African overall in the women’s race.
Her time in that down run was 6:51:43, and put into perspective her
meteoric rise in the last two years.
At Cowies Hill, 16.8km into the race Wöstmann was 51 seconds behind the two Russians Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva and South African Yolande Maclean who was leading at that point. But by Drummond Hill at the 43.7km mark, Wöstmann had made her move and hit the lead and had opened up a 1:37 gap over the Nurgalieva twins.
In the men’s race fellow South African Gift Kelehe was the first person to cross the line in 2015 in a time of 5:38.36 seconds.
Mohammed Husien of Ethiopia took second as he jogged and walked his way over the line in
5:46.14. South African Hatiwande Nyamande took third in 5:48.19.
For his efforts, Kelehe will collect R375 000 for the win after coming third in the race last year.
At Cato Ridge 57.7km into the race, Kelehe was down in fifth place but only 1:20 behind.
But Kelehe started powering his way past his opponents at that point to lead by1:39 with 70km gone and 17km remaining. His advantage was further increased as he went through Polly Shorts as he enjoyed a 6:15 cushion.
Shortly after crossing the line, Kelehe proceeded to jog back onto the final straight
and began doing push-ups as he failed to contain his excitement. – ANA