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The Citizen
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Springs Striders endure grueling Comrades Marathon, 8 finish with medals
Springs Striders were among the runners who took part in the 98th annual Comrades Marathon in Durban on Sunday. Eight of the 13 members who participated earned medals, including Nico de Nysschen, who received a Bill Rowan medal after finishing in 8 hours and 30 minutes. For the first time in the marathon's history, elite runners started 15 minutes ahead of the rest of the field, a move intended to reduce congestion at the start. 'The new top-group start worked really well and allowed me to cross the starting line much faster,' said De Nysschen. 'There were so many supporters along the route that you were never alone. The atmosphere at the start and finish was electrifying, enough to give you goosebumps or bring you to tears.' He said the toughest moment came at the 75km mark. To help manage the mental demands of the race, he followed a keyword system he had planned in advance. 'I divided the race into segments with specific focus words: 0 to 20km was 'conserve,' 20 to 39km was 'rhythm,' 39 to 54km was 'relax,' 54 to 74km was 'control,' and 74 to 90km was 'believe.' These helped me stay focused and kept me going whenever I doubted myself or got lost in thought,' he said. 'At 75km, I felt nauseous and dizzy. I said a quick prayer, drank Coca-Cola, and kept repeating the word 'believe.'' His goal was to finish under nine hours to earn the Bill Rowan medal. At one point, he feared the target might slip away and knew he had to push harder. ALSO CHECK: Springs' Olympia Park Pool lies in ruins after a decade of neglect 'With 12km to go, I started feeling better and was able to increase my pace significantly to recover lost time. I finished well under nine hours and received my first-ever Bill Rowan medal. It is probably the most beautiful medal I have ever received,' he said. De Nysschen said he was overwhelmed with emotion at the finish line because of the support he had received. 'I knew how disappointed my boys would be if I gave up or missed my goal. Succeeding for all of us brought overwhelming joy, tears of happiness, and deep gratitude. It felt like winning the Comrades itself,' he said. Springs Striders' Charmaine Botha also shared her thoughts on this year's race. 'After a grueling 89.98km down run with an elevation drop of 1 153m, it is safe to say this remains one of the toughest races out there,' she said. 'The weather started off crisp and cool, but as we approached Durban, the heat and humidity kicked in, adding to the challenge.' Despite the demanding course and changing conditions, Botha said most runners dug deep, persevered, and earned their medals. 'Joining 22 000 other determined athletes, we are incredibly proud of our club members who crossed the finish line. Your grit and resilience are inspiring. Well done,' she said. Other Springs Striders results: *Charmaine Botha: 09:46 *Mziwakhe Maseko: 09:54 *Clement Westley: 10:09 *Annetjie Nel: 10:53 *Alwyn Wiid: 11:21 *Richardt Lubbe: 11:45 *Ruan Maree: 11:50 At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Epoch Times
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
New Rules for 2026 Oscars Enforce Member Film Viewership and AI Guidelines
The 98th annual Academy Awards will have a new set of rules and guidelines regarding film voting eligibility and regulations regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI). On April 21, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to be eligible to vote in the final round. 'There will be a preliminary round of voting to determine a shortlist of 10 films, and prior to nominations voting, Casting Directors Branch members will be invited to view a 'bake-off' presentation of the shortlisted achievements, including a Q&A with the designated nominees,' it said in a In the past, members were only encouraged to watch the nominated films and vote where they felt compelled or qualified to, a move that questioned the integrity of voting in the first place. Among several other guidelines announced, generative AI was a major topic of discussion. When used in filmmaking, the academy noted that it will neither make nor break a nomination. 'With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film, the tools neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination,' the statement said. Related Stories 3/18/2025 8/31/2024 'The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship when choosing which movie to award.' Numerous major motion-picture stars have previously spoken In the last award season, actor Adrien Brody Meanwhile, issues regarding refugee filmmakers and clarification regarding casting categories were also addressed. Specifically, the eligibility for filmmakers with refugee or asylum status will be included, but they must be represented by a country not their own. 'The submitting country must confirm that creative control of the film was largely in the hands of citizens, residents, or individuals with refugee or asylum status in the submitting country.' The 98th Academy Awards will be held on March 15, 2026, broadcast live on ABC, and streamed on Hulu. Comedian and late-night television show host Conan O'Brien will
