On Sunday, 9 June 2024, at 5:30 a.m., Durban, South Africa, buzzed excitedly as over 20,000 runners embarked on the 97th Comrades Marathon. This iconic ultramarathon, nearly 86 kilometres long, is renowned for its gruelling route through the hills of KwaZulu-Natal province. Among the determined athletes were six runners from the Ermelo Athletic Club, marking their first participation in this historic race.
The Comrades Marathon, established by World War I veteran Vic Clapham in 1921, commemorates the sacrifices of South African soldiers. It has grown to become the most significant and oldest ultramarathon in the world, drawing participants from across the globe. This year’s race, an “Up” run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, featured around 1,000 meters of elevation gain, testing the endurance and strategy of all who dared to compete.
Representing the Ermelo Athletic Club, the following runners took on this formidable challenge:
Frik Henning - Marathon Bib 53451
- Finish Time: 10:39:12
- Average Pace: 07:27 min/km
Jacques Louw - Marathon Bib 57431
- Finish Time: 11:23:10
- Average Pace: 07:58 min/km
Paul Botha - Marathon Bib 49564
- Finish Time: 11:29:39
- Average Pace: 08:02 min/km
Marieta Ziervogel (Swart) - Marathon Bib 13413
- Finish Time: 11:38:42
- Average Pace: 08:08 min/km
Zelda Keyser - Marathon Bib 49369
- Finish Time: 11:44:24
- Average Pace: 08:12 min/km
Kobus Swart - Marathon Bib 13557
- Finish Time: 11:54:01
- Average Pace: 08:19 min/km
Additionally, Corné Jooste, another proud Ermelo athlete, ran for Nedbank and completed the race with an impressive time:
Corné Jooste - Marathon Bib 55931
- Finish Time: 10:26:53
- Average Pace: 07:18 min/km
Photo: Frik Henning (left) and Jacques Louw (right)
The journey of these runners was nothing short of remarkable. Starting in the pre-dawn darkness to the inspiring strains of the “Chariots of Fire” theme, they faced the daunting “Big Five” hills. Their determination and preparation paid off as they conquered the challenging course, each crossing the finish line in Pietermaritzburg with pride and joy.
Photo: Corné Jooste
As the Ermelo runners achieved their personal milestones, South African Gerda Steyn produced another phenomenal performance, shattering her record and securing her third victory at the Comrades Marathon. Steyn’s triumph was the highlight of the event, as she crossed the line in 5:49:46, more than nine minutes inside her “up” run record of 5:58:53 set in 2019. Piet Wiersma of The Netherlands also claimed victory in the men’s race, solidifying their names in Comrades Marathon history.
Photo (fltr): Kobus Swart, Marieta Swart, Paul Botha and Zelda Keyser
The achievements of the Ermelo Athletic Club testify to their hard work, dedication, and the supportive community behind them. They join the ranks of countless runners who have made history on the roads of the Comrades Marathon, inspiring future generations to take on this ultimate test of endurance.
Photo: SABCSport - Gerda Steyn
The Ermelo Athletic Club congratulates all their runners for outstanding performances and looks forward to many more successful Comrades Marathons.