Dolphin Coast Strider cracks top 100 in Comrades Marathon silver medal finish
Dolphin Coast Striders runner Mhlengi Khowane delivered a standout performance at this year's Comrades Marathon, finishing as the 100th-fastest male in a time of 6:26:43.
Khowane, who ran his second Comrades, carved nearly 20 minutes off his 2023 debut time, earning a coveted silver medal and solidifying his status as one of the North Coast's most promising long-distance athletes.
'I am grateful to the Dolphin Coast Striders, the Holgate family and my close friends for supporting me in this journey,' said Khowane.
'This was my first down run and while it was challenging and I am still feeling the impact. I am proud of the results I achieved. Running is in my blood.'
His achievement was part of a strong showing from over 150 local runners, who overcame punishing conditions and 90km of gruelling tarmac, braving the cold start and searing midday heat on Sunday.
Runners included members of the Dolphin Coast Striders (140 finishers), Mandeni Harriers (13), Tongaat Panthers (6) and other locals who run for national clubs.
KwaDukuza municipality revenue management director Mthandeni Nene was our second-fastest finisher, running in Nedbank Running Club colours to a time of 7:01:17 – earning one of five local silver medals.
The remaining three silvers were all claimed by Striders.
Jean-Marc Larche's time of 7:02:53 earned him his second silver in two attempts, while David Fick (7:22:37) and Richard Cohen (7:25:06) were thrilled to claim their first silvers on their fourth and fifth attempts respectively.
Stuart Hill came agonisingly close to taking home his second silver medal, missing the 7:30 cut-off by just 24 seconds.
'In an excellent show of performance and guts, the Dolphins did our town proud.
We had runners scattered throughout the field from Mhlengi to 11:59 finisher Julia Thompson,' said Striders' club captain and finisher, Nic Acampora.
'We certainly made a splash by showcasing our new club kit and our support tables were a constant envy for other runners on the course. Another wonderful year for our club at the Comrades.'
Beyond speed, the Comrades is also a singular test of endurance and consistency – awarding green numbers to runners who have completed 10 editions of the race.
Billy Mokoena from the Striders, Avinesh Seetharam from the Panthers and Amos Ntombela from the Harriers all joined that elite club this year with their 10th medals.
They joined the Striders' Colin Goosen (43 finishes), Leon van Moerkerken (34), Vulindlele Zweni (26), Warwick Taylor (26), Siboniso Mpanza (23), Debbie Holland (22), Sibusiso Jali (19), Thembile Qhaniso (18), Joseph Mashele (15), Earl Donnelly (12), Pasma Gumede (12), Julia Thompson (12), Graeme Hall (11) and Benjamin Kilian (11), along with the Panthers' Devandran Reddy (22), as this year's double-digit finishers.
South Africans claimed both overall titles at the top end of the race, with Gerda Steyn taking her fourth win and Tete Dijana securing his third.
Meanwhile, 74-year-old Louis Massyn became the first runner to complete 50 Comrades and 83-year-old Johannes Mosehla became the oldest ever finisher.
For a full list of results, visit comrades.com.
Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.
Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App
Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Maybe Proteas Women lost it a bit in the middle in West Indies loss, says Tazmin Brits despite half-century
Tazmin Brits scored a half-century for the Proteas Women against the West Indies. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Proteas Women opening batter Tazmin Brits was disappointed with her team's performance against the West Indies in Barbados on Wednesday, despite putting up a decent half-century. Brits, who opened the batting for the Proteas with captain Laura Wolvaardt, got the team off to a positive start during the first 10 overs of the game. The pair pushed toward their 50-run partnership, which came in the 11th over, but Wolvaardt lost her wicket cheaply shortly after with a run out. From there on, the Proteas batting line-up were shaky, and looked far off from the team that put over 300 runs on the board a couple months ago against Sri Lanka and India. The Proteas ended up losing Wednesday's game by four wickets via the DLS method. One of the major changes to their batting line-up was Mandla Mashimbyi's choice to move Annerie Dercksen up to No 5. Dercksen hasn't really found her place yet, as she was brought in at No 7 against Sri Lanka during their last ODI. The big-hitting batter fell for just four runs in the middle-order. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading An innings of pure brilliance from Tazmin Brits, showcasing courage and class. A truly phenomenal effort with the bat. 🔥🏏👏#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe — Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) June 11, 2025 The Proteas failed to take the momentum they built in their final game of the Tri-Series into this match against the Windies. West Indies, on the other hand, came into the game with a low confidence level after England thrashed them 6-0 in a prior series. By that logic, the South Africans should have come into this game on a high and dominated the match from the get-go, but the West Indies had other ideas and held them to 232/9 in 50 overs. Brits said they fell short with the bat and ball, and seriously needed to learn how to start winning their first ODI of the series. The 57 off 65 deliveries etched Brits' name into Proteas Women history, as she became the second fastest to reach 1,000 runs in the ODI format. 'We actually started well with the bat upfront. We got to like 43 or 44 runs in the powerplay, and I don't think that was too bad,' Brits said. 'I do think we maybe lost it a bit in the middle. 'In terms of bowling, I don't think we hit our line and length like we should have, and they came out guns blazing, so all credit to them. 'But we are going to have to pull up our socks. We can't keep losing the first ODI. 'We are going to have to start winning that and making a change, especially going into the World Cup. 🚨 MATCH RESULT 🚨 Heavy rain forced a reduction in overs, with the second innings cut to 34 overs and a revised target of 180 set for the West Indies Women ⛈️. The WI Women win by 4 wickets under DLS and take a 1-0 lead in this 3-match ODI series 🏏.#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe — Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) June 11, 2025 'It's always nice to hit those milestones, but it's not as great when you're on the losing end. 'I would have liked to get to a 100 and maybe contribute a bit more to the team, so we could have gotten to that 260 or 280 mark. 'I don't like going out like that... I think it's a bit of a soft dismissal. At the end of the day, I can only learn from it and next time contribute a bit more.' The Klerksdorp-born right-hander said she expected a bit more movement off the pitch, especially with the new ball and pace, but the conditions did not pan out as she thought they would.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
FIFA Club World Cup: Mamelodi Sundowns name 26-man final squad
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has named his final 26-man squad for the FIFA Club World Cup due to kick off this weekend. Themba Zwane will lead Masandawana at the tournament, with Ronwen Williams handling the vice-captaincy duties. Mamelodi Sundowns have been drawn in Group F alongside German team Borussia Dortmund, Brazilian outfit Fluminense FC and little-known South Korean side Ulsan HD FC. The top two sides in each of the eight groups will progress to the Round of 16. When South Africans connect, we don't just network; we build a community. The Lekker Network is a professional network where every conversation starts with, 'How can I help you?' Come join us & be a part of a community of extraordinary Saffas. All times SA Wednesday, 18 June vs Ulsan – 00:00 Saturday, 21 June vs Borussia Dortmund – 18:00 Wednesday, 25 June vs Fluminense – 21:00 Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Ahly, Esperance and Wydad Casablanca are the four African representatives at the revamped 32-team Club World Cup. Cardoso has chosen a squad including 20 South Africans, two Brazilians, a Chilean, a Ugandan, a Zimbabwean and a Namibian. Reserve goalkeeper Denis Onyango from Uganda is the oldest player at 40 and South African winger Kutlwano Letlhaku the youngest at 19. Ronwen Williams, Denis Onyango, Reyaad Pieterse, Khuliso Mudau, Thapelo Morena, Aubrey Modiba, Divine Lunga, Grant Kekana, Malibongwe Khoza, Mothobi Mvala, Keanu Cupido, Mosa Lebusa, Marcelo Allende, Jayden Adams, Themba Zwane, Sphelele Mkhulise, Neo Maema, Teboho Mokoena, Bathusi Aubaas, Peter Shalulile, Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Iqraam Rayners, Arthur Sales, Tashreeq Matthews, Lebo Mothiba, Kutlwano Letlhaku Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
FIFA Club World Cup: Miguel Cardoso issues Mamelodi Sundowns warning
South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns, a team used to dominating possession, may have their time with the ball considerably reduced at the Club World Cup, says coach Miguel Cardoso. The Pretoria-based outfit are drawn in Group F with Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund expected to advance to the knockout phase in the United States at the expense of Masandawana and South Korean side Ulsan. When South Africans connect, we don't just network; we build a community. The Lekker Network is a professional network where every conversation starts with, 'How can I help you?' Come join us & be a part of a community of extraordinary Saffas. 'We are used to controlling matches in the South African league,' the 53-year-old Portuguese said of a club that recently won the Betway Premiership an eighth consecutive time. 'Our possession can be 70 percent, sometimes even more,' he told the South African media before departing for North America with a 26-strong squad. 'Now we must prepare mentally to adapt to situations where our opponents will have the majority of possession. I doubt we will be able to control games like we regularly do in South Africa.' Cardoso picked out Borussia Dortmund as a team to present a different type of challenge from the opposition Mamelodi Sundowns are used to at home and in Africa. 'Dortmund play a very high tempo, aggressive style, which is typical of German football,' said the coach, who has worked in Portugal, Ukraine, France, Spain and Greece. Cardoso moved to Africa in 2024, winning the Tunisian title with Esperance and taking them to the CAF Champions League final, which they lost to Al Ahly of Egypt. Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Ahly, Esperance and Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca, who have won 20 continental Champions League titles between them, are the African representatives at the revamped 32-team Club World Cup from June 14. Sacked by Esperance last year following indifferent domestic form, Cardoso was hired by Mamelodi Sundowns after they axed local coach Manqoba Mngqithi having lost to minnows Magesi FC in a knockout competition final. Cardoso took Mamelodi Sundowns to the league title, but a surprise Nedbank Cup semi-final loss to Kaizer Chiefs dashed hopes of a South African double. An even bigger disappointment came in the CAF Champions League, where Mamelodi Sundowns eliminated Esperance and Ahly only to lose the final to Pyramids, an Egyptian club competing for only the second time. 'The belief that African clubs lack organisation, especially when defending, is untrue,' insists Cardoso. But it was a series of defensive blunders against Pyramids in Pretoria and Cairo that cost Mamelodi Sundowns a chance to win the Champions League a second time after their 2016 triumph. Slack marking allowed Pyramids to snatch an added-time equaliser in South Africa, and a weak clearance and more poor marking led to the goals that gave the Egyptians a 2-1 second-leg victory. Cardoso has chosen a squad including 20 South Africans, two Brazilians, a Chilean, a Ugandan, a Zimbabwean and a Namibian. Reserve goalkeeper Denis Onyango from Uganda is the oldest at 40 and South African winger Kutlwano Letlhaku the youngest at 19. First choice shot-stopper Ronwen Williams saved four penalties in a 2024 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final shootout against Cape Verde. Khuliso Mudau is a polished full-back, Teboho Mokoena an aggressive midfielder with a powerful shot and Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro won the South African league's Golden Boot last season with 16 goals. But a lot of South African attention at the Club World Cup will centre on a midfielder who did not feature in the Champions League title decider, 35-year-old Themba Zwane. Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Joel Masilela was furious at the exclusion of Zwane. 'He is our Lionel Messi and should have started or come off the bench,' Masilela said. 'Cardoso cost us a Champions League title.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
