A Comrades Marathon runner tragically collapsed and died during the 95th edition of the ultramarathon on Sunday. Photo: Hollywoodbets Athletics Club
RIP: Comrades Marathon runner dies after collapsing mid-race
A Comrades Marathon runner tragically collapsed and died during the 95th edition of the ultramarathon on Sunday.
A Comrades Marathon runner tragically collapsed and died during the 95th edition of the ultramarathon on Sunday. Photo: Hollywoodbets Athletics Club
A Comrades Marathon runner tragically collapsed and died during the 95th edition of the ultramarathon on Sunday.
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Hollywoodbets Athletics Club member, Mzamo Mthembu, died while running the race in KwaZulu-Natal.
“It is with a heavy heart to announce the passing of Hollywoodbets Athletics Club athlete Mzamo Mthembu, from the Toti branch, who was doing Comrades Marathon yesterday.”
Hollywoodbets Athletic Club
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Mthembu had complications along the marathon route and collapsed in Pinetown. He was taken to Life Westville Hospital where he died, Hollywoodbets Athletics Club added.
“Condolences to the entire #Purple family, Mthembu family and friends. May his soul rest in peace.”
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Meanwhile, the race, which returned for the first time since 2019 following the Covid-19 pandemic, had several eventful moments.
Those included a runner holding up a banner while approaching the finish line at Moses Mabhida Stadium, asking Prudence to marry him.
Joseph Kagiso Ndlovu from the Tuks Athletics Club held up a banner stating: “Prudence, will you marry me? Run 90k for you”.
The proposal had tweeps talking, with some saying running such a distance for a loved-one is insane. Others were hoping Prudence said ‘yes’ to the public marriage proposal.
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Sunday’s women’s ‘down’ run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban was won by Russian Alexandra Morozova.
She was only allowed to join the race at the last minute after an urgent application at the Pietermaritzburg High Court gave her the green light to participate.
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) had opposed her participation, but then changed its mind, stating she would need to start at the back of the field.
However, Judge Rob Mossop ruled that she would be allowed to start among the elite runners and ordered the CMA to pay the costs of the application.
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The men’s race was won by South Africa’s Tete Dijana who works as a security guard at North West University.
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