5 male runners to watch in Comrades

Following a two-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is tricky to pick a favourite in this year's Comrades Marathon Down Run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. 

All eyes will be on the elite men to see which runner will cross the finish line first after a gruelling 90km race.

Bongmusa Mthembu

Mthembu is the most successful black South African Comrades Marathon runner with three titles and a fan favourite for the Ultimate Human Race. 

He is a local runner and knows the route like the palm of his hand, having amassed six gold medals in previous editions. 

Edward Mothibi

Mothibi denied Mthembu the title in the last edition in 2019, in what was a neck-and-neck finish, and is among the favourite to walk away with his second title. 

He warmed up for the big race by winning a half-marathon title in the North West before attending a six-week training camp in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga.

Gift Kelehe

The 2015 winner has also collected six gold medals over the years and will be looking to add a seventh at the weekend. On his day Kelehe can take on anyone and win the race.

He trained well in Dullstroom and prepared for the gruelling race. He is a consistent top 10 performer.

Claude Moshiywa

Moshiywa is the 2013 Comrades Marathon champion and did not go for a training camp with his Nedbank Running Club teammates in Mpumalanga. 

However, he prepared for the race in the streets of Johannesburg after office hours as he juggles working and training, but still will fancy his chances of a top-10 finish. 

Joseph Manyedi

Manyedi was fifth in the last edition in 2019 and prepared for this year™s race in Dullstroom. He will be looking to once again finish in the top 10 and possibly improve on his last performance.

By Charles Baloyi