South Africans setting the pace

2005-06-16 07:57

Pietermaritzburg - With the 80th Comrades Marathon well into its stride as the runners head down from Pietermaritzburg to Durban the leaders in the men's race are all South African pace makers.

They are Thamba Lamane, Andries Masoeu and Thaba Mohoto who were setting the target for the favourites with 59 kms to go. In the women's race it is all Russia with the Nurgalieva twins Elena and Olesya and Tatiana Zurkova setting the pattern.

At that stage the women had 61 kms to the finish at Kingsmead in Durban.

At Cato Ridge there was a bunch of top favourites lurking for an opportunity to strike including the winner of the last down run Andrew Kelehe.

The Comrades, which was to have literally started with a bang at 05:30 on Thursday, set off with only the traditional sound of a gun after planned fireworks were cancelled at the last minute.

Sapa's reporter at the race said the fireworks were cancelled after pet owners and animal lovers complained.

The 14 000 runners set off from Pietermaritzburg to Durban with only the traditional firing of the gun by the city's mayor, Hloni Zondi, atop the portico of the City Hall.

- SAPA