MASERU - At least 17 local distance runners were this week training hard preparing for the Comrades Marathon and have promised to scoop the first prize money of M425,000 at stake for the 2018 marathon which will take place from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on June 10.
sports
May 24, 2018
3 min read
Local athletes vow to make history at Comrades Marathon
Lesotho’s long distance runner Teboho Sello said his fitness level was still high after running the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, South Africa during Easter. He said he had since been camping at Teyateyaneng, in Berea for over a month running different distances with the longest being 85km in in the highlands parts of the country such as Metolong, Pulane, Thaba Tseka and Marakabei. Sello, who will be making his sixth appearance at the Comrades Marathon without success, after only appearing fifth position as his highest achievement, will be looking to improve his position this time around and hopefully win and set a national record. No Mosotho athlete has ever won the race.
Sello is however sad that there is lack of sponsorship for local athletes in preparation for big races such as the Comrades Marathon. He has spent over M8,000 from his pocket, in fuel, to go and visit different places in order to acclimatise ahead of the race. Sello runs under the South African Maxed which only sponsors him with training and running attire. He said that was not enough. He is however thankful to one guest house in Teyateyaneng which he said provided him with accommodation.
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Speaking about the race, Sello said the Comrades Marathon needs a runner with strong muscles; hence; he has decided to train in the mountainous areas of the country. One local runner, Warinyane Lebopo, also said after two unsuccessful attempts in which he was only a pacesetter in 2015 and 2017, this time, he will be going all out to win the race if luck is on his side. He said he had been training hard after participating in the Two Oceans Marathon where he failed to make an impact due to tough weather conditions that prevailed in Cape Town.
The Lesotho Amateur Athletics Association (LAAA) Secretary General, Mr. Makara Thilinyane said, this time, no local female runners have requested to take part in the race. The male local athletes who have been given permits by the association to run the race will include Sello, Lebopo, Tsotang Maine, Moeketsi Mosuhli, Lebohang Monyele, and Lephetesang Adoro. Asked why no local athlete has ever won the Comrades Marathon, he said it was due to local runners skipping some stages as they always rush for immediate success without bidding their time in order to go through all the stages.
He also blamed lack of proper guidance from coaches, saying Lesotho has a few qualified distance runners to provide mentorship and the necessary distance running skills to many and talented athletes in the country.
The Comrades Marathon rules demand that foreign athletes must strictly observe International Association Athletics Federation (IAAF) Rule 4.
The rule says all foreign athletes must note that in order to participate in the event, they require written approval (a permit) from their National Federations. In a case where a foreign athlete is entered through a South African athletics club, it is the responsibility of the club to assist the athlete in securing the permit and to hand it over to the race organisers before the event takes place.
Event organisers reserve the right to reject the entry of foreign athletes who violate IAAF Rule 4. There are at least 20,000 runners from across the globe expected to try their luck at this year’s race.
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