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Sports Reporter
THREE-TIME Comrades Marathon winner Stephen Muzhingi was the best Zimbabwean at this year’s competition when he finished fourth in South Africa yesterday.Bongumusa Mthembu of South Africa won the race in a time of five hours 28 minutes and 34 seconds
His time was however slower than Muzhingi’s 2009 time of five hours 23 minutes 27 seconds.
Finishing fourth in five hours 35 minutes 18 seconds was a credible effort for the Zimbabwean who graduated from the Air Force of Zimbabwe basic course in March. His preparations were affected by his bid to be a fully-fledged member of the air force.
Mthembu was four minutes and 41 seconds faster than nearest rival Ludwick Mamabolo. The winner averaged three minutes and 41 seconds per kilometre on his way to the finishing line.
Third spot went to Gift Kelehe who made sure it was an all-South African top three finish.
Zimbabwean Prodigal Khumalo of Bulawayo was ninth in five hours 39 minutes 37 seconds.
Swede Jonas Buud was seventh as South Africans dominated the top 10 standings.
Mthembu won R350,000 for the first prize.
Russian Elena Nurgalieva fluffed an opportunity to record her ninth victory in the 89km ultra marathon, when she dropped off the leading pack with about 6km to go, giving way to Nedbank International runner Eleanor Greenwood.
No Zimbabwean lady featured in the top 10 of the women’s category.
Muzhingi and Khumalo’s strong performances came a week after Daniel Rowland of Bulawayo won a 230km endurance race in Peru.
Results from the 2014 Comrades Marathon women’s race run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban yesterday:
1. Eleanor Greenwood (Nedbank RC) Great Britain six hours, 18 minutes and 15 seconds (6:18:15)
2. Elena Nurgalieva (Toyota AC) Russia 6:23:18
3. Olesya Nurgalieva (Toyota AC) Russia 6:24:51
4. Irina Antropova (Nedbank RC) RSA 6:34:08
5. Jo Meek (Toyota AC) Great Britain 6:47:02
6. Caroline Wostmann (Nedbank RC) Gauteng 6:51:43
7. Zola Budd Pieterse (Hooters AC) RSA 6:55:55
8. Frida Sdermark (GoIF Tjalve) Sweden 6:57:33
9. Martinique Potgieter (Pietersburg RR) Limpopo 7:00:46
10. Julanie Basson (Toyota AC) Gauteng 7:02:50
Results from the 2014 Comrades Marathon men’s race run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban yesterday:
1. Bongmusa Mthembu (Nedbank RC) KZN 5:28:34
2. Ludwick Mamabolo (Nedbank RC) Gauteng 5:33:14
3. Gift Kelehe (Samancor Chrome MC) Limpopo 5:34:39
4. Stephen Muzhingi (Toyota AC) Zimbabwe 5:35:18
5. Rufus Photo (Pietersburg RR) Limpopo 5:35:30
6. Mncedisi Mkhize (Maxed Elite) KZN 5:36:06
7. Jonas Buud (Nedbank RC) Sweden 5:38:17
8. Manoko William Mokwalakwala Gauteng 5:39:29
9. Prodigal Khumalo (Maxed Elite) Zimbabwe 5:39:36
10. Latudi Makofane (Samancor CM) Limpopo 5:40:41
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter