With the highly-anticipated 97th version of the Comrades Marathon set to happen this Sunday, Hollywoodbets Sports activities seems at 10 of the highest contenders for this yr’s Up Run race setting off in Durban earlier than concluding in Pietermaritzburg.
Males
Tete Dijana
Having recorded spectacular back-to-back victories in 2022 and 2023, it’s comprehensible all eyes will once more be on Dijana as he pushes for a 3rd successive win within the Comrades Marathon.
Final yr, Dijana took it a notch up when he set a brand new Down Run document of 5:13:58 in 2023.
This would be the second time Dijana tackles the Up Run after his first try in 2019 noticed the Nedbank Operating Membership athlete end fiftieth.
Edward Mothibi
Mothibi will head into Sunday’s Up Run because the defending champion having been the final runner to win it again in 2019. This would be the first time the Up Run is ready to be staged since then.
One can’t rule Mothibi out from reclaiming his title after displaying wonderful consistency within the race.
Mothibi has managed to impressively end on the rostrum in 2022 and 2023.
Piet Wiersma
After impressing as an unknown runner in final yr’s Comrades Marathon, the Netherlands-born runner is tipped as a heavy favorite for high honours on Sunday.
Wiersma completed three seconds behind record-breaking Dijana final yr and likewise broke the earlier document as he crossed the road in a time of 5:14:01.
Bongumusa Mthembu
Mthembu might have final gained his third Comrades title in 2018, however he stays one of the crucial harmful runners. He has one Up Run victory and two Down Run titles.
Nkosikhona Mhlakwana
Mhlakwana missed out on the highest 10 end within the final Up Run in 2019 after he fell to the bottom a couple of metres from the end line.
The Hollywoodbets Athletic Membership runner ended up settling for the eleventh spot. Mhlakwana heads to Sunday in good kind, having performed effectively in different races he took half in as a part of the Comrades Marathon build-up.
Ladies
Gerda Steyn
Gerda Steyn is a document holder for each Up Run and Down Run. In 2019, over the last Up Run, Steyn turned the primary girl to complete the course in below six hours.
It is going to show a tough process for the opposite girls to beat her on Sunday.
Adele Broodryk
After ending third in 2022 and second in final yr’s race, Broodryk’s major intention this yr will likely be to push for the highest honours.
Within the 2023 version, she additionally broke the six-hour barrier as she crossed the end line at 5:56:25.
Alexandra Morozova
The Russian athlete is likely one of the strongest Comrades Marathon runners, with 5 gold medals from 5 races.
Morozova, who gained the race in 2022, has missed the Comrades podium solely as soon as and that was final yr when she completed sixth.
She struggled with an harm, however this yr, her preparation for the race has gone in accordance with the plan and will likely be a powerful competitor.
Carla Molinaro
Since ending final yr’s Comrades Marathon in third place, Molinaro has seen her working kind bettering.
The Hollywood Athletics Membership runner went on to be topped World Champion over 50km and will likely be one of many athletes to be careful for on Sunday.
Deanne Laubscher
Laubscher just lately represented South Africa in each the World 50km and 100km Championship. She will likely be desperate to do effectively within the Comrades Marathon and get her first gold medal.
