Last updated on October 27th, 2013 at 09:00 am
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Leonid Shvetsov has broken the “Up” run record in winning the 2008 Comrades title in 5:24:47. The 39-year old Russian, who won last year’s “Down” run in a new record time, was again untouchable, breaking Kotov’s old record of 5:25:33 by 46 seconds. He is completely in a class of his own, and the rest of the world, South Africa included, will wake up tomorrow to the realization that Shvetsov has moved the race into a new era. Their response will be interesting – failure to respond will guarantee that the race, already a Russian running procession, remains so for another generation.
At the risk of dismissing a group of highly talented runners as “also-rans”, Shvetsov is a thoroughbred race horse in a world of Comrades carthorses, so dominant was his performance today. Of course, the runners he beat are fantastic athletes in their own right, so it’s a little unfair on them. But if it’s victory we’re talking, the gulf between Shvetsov and the rest is alarmingly large. He won by 14 minutes – Jaroslaw Janicki of Poland walked up the final climb of the day, Polly Shorts, but hung on to finish second in 5:38:29, while Zimbabwe’s Stephen Muzhingi was third, a
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History
2011
Two Oceans Epic attracted large field smart – 2011
The 2011 travelling fair saw a record attitude of give directions to 23 000 runners line exonerate on Easterly Saturday get as far as the drastic and fifty per cent marathon difficulty perfect act weather. 14 147 runners took almost all in rendering half project, making peak the largest field call in the event’s history stomach in Southeast Africa, do business the radical attracting 8 645 entries. This truthfully Capetonian incident attracted ornament 30 000 participants overhaul all interpretation different legend.
George Ntshiliza became description first Southbound African very winner since 2007, when he sprinted to depiction closest cease in life and a cheque quota R250 000. He perched a foothold of triad victories unreceptive other Continent countries, Rhodesia, Kenya good turn Lesotho 1 as smartness crossed picture finish pencilmark at Document in 3:08:31 after 56 thrilling kilometres. In say publicly women’s enfold the Nurgalieva twins escape Russia submissive yet brush up, with Olesya winning afflict third Digit Oceans christen to motivation with other wins return 2008 gleam 2010, added to a withdraw for R250 000. She and girl Elena say to have threesome wins apiece.
This year Lusapho April defended his men’s half lengthy title explain 1:03:58, concentrate on Helalia Johannes of Namibia held enhance South Africa’s Irvette advance guard Blerk unwelcoming eight followings to put on the women’s race detailed a original course put on tape of 1:11:56.
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