Hayward to be commemorated
2007-06-15 13:39
Durban - Legendary Comrades Marathon runner Wally Hayward is to be perpetually honoured by the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) in recognition of his great achievements in the long history of the Durban-Pietermaritzburg-Durban race.
From Sunday onwards the first man to be placed outside of the 10 gold medal winners - that is the 11th finisher - will get a Wally Hayward gold medal provided he turns in a sub-six hour time for the race which ends this year in Durban.
If he is over the six hour limit the Wally Hayward medal will be cast in silver.
Speaking at a Durban media conference on Friday, race organiser Rene Smith confirmed that there will be 12 000 runners this year - about a thousand down on the corresponding 'down run' two years ago - and because the race is being run on a Sunday for the first time (in a three-year cycle), three inter-denominational church services will be held.
The first will be in a tent outside the Maritzburg City Hall at 04:30am on Sunday - an hour before the starter's gun is fired - and the other two at 15:30 and 17:30 at the finish at Kingsmead in Durban.
In another innovation the CMA has arranged for a Zulu praise singer to be at the start to send the runners on their way on the 89.3km journey to Durban. He will be singing the praises of all participants.
Smith said: "We estimate that there will be 350 000 spectators lining the route to watch the runners go through the various stages. There will be lots of entertainment at various points along the route for the public to enjoy."
She added that there would be 50 refreshment stations to meet all the runners' needs with 4 000 volunteers on stand-by to assist the runners.
"There will be 1.1 million sachets of water, 350 000 sachets of Energade, 400 cases of bananas and we also serve oranges and potatoes and a ton of chocolates. Believe me the runners will be well looked after."
Medical needs will be met at eight official medical stations under the supervision of Netcare 911.
The first male runner is expected to reach the finish around 11:00.
The proceedings will close with the Charity car draw and the official prize giving will take place at 13:30 which is about three hours earlier than the procedure in years past.
- SAPA