THE CONTENDERS
Top Male Contenders
Bongmusa Mthembu ( SA )
Club : Arthur Ford AC Age : 37 Marathon PB : 2:17:31 ( Cape Town , 2020 ) 50km PB : 2:50:23 ( Brasov , Romania , 2019 ) Last Marathon : 2:17:31 ( Cape Town , 2020 )
Just reading Bongmusa Mthembu ’ s CV is enough to point to him being amongst the leading contenders for the 50km World Best … three wins in the Comrades Marathon ( 2014 , 2017 & 2018 ) and a win in the Two Oceans Marathon in 2019 already makes him one of the most decorated South African runners , and one of the few to win both the classic SA ultras , but then add second- and third-place finishes in the IAU 100km World Champs and seventh place in the 2019 IAU 50km World Champs . It ’ s an impressive read !
David Gatebe ( SA )
Club : Impala Age : 39 Marathon PB : 2:15:30 ( Durban 2008 ) Last Marathon : 2:37 ( Pretoria , 2018 )
Images : Action Photo SA & Arthur Ford
Only a handful of men have won both the Two Oceans and Comrades Marathon titles here in South Africa , and David Gatebe showed remarkable longevity in winning Oceans in 2012 and then Comrades in 2016 , with a ‘ Down Run ’ course record of 5:17 , the fastest time ever run in the KZN ultra . In one of his more recent outings , he took second place in the 2019 Two Oceans , so provided he has kept his training up to standard through the lockdown period , he must be considered a contender here .
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