National
Mthembu wins his first Comrades─── 11:33 Sun, 01 Jun 2014
Pietermaritzburg - Bongmusa Mthembu won his maiden Comrades Marathon after clinching the 2014 'down run' title by a comfortable margin in Durban on Sunday.
The Nedbank runner, winner of three previous gold medals in one of the world's most famous ultra marathons, crossed the line in a time of five hours, 28 minutes and 34 seconds (5:28.34).
He finished the 89.28 kilometres race over four minutes ahead of Ludwick Mamabolo, the defending 'down run' winner from 2012 who recorded a time of 5:33.14.
Mthembu, from Bulwer just outside Pietermaritzburg in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, took the lead just before Cowies Hill -- approximately 17 kilometres before the Kingsmead Stadium finish -- and never looked back, finishing strongly on his way to claiming the R350,000 top-prize.
Gift Kelehe, brother of 2001 winner Andrew, came third in a time of 5:34.39 with three-time former champion Stephen Muzhingi (5:35.18) of Zimbabwe fourth, followed by countryman Rufus Photo (5:35.30) fifth.
- Sapa
