Latest news with #TeteDijana
The Citizen
23-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Mokopane athletes shine at 2025 Comrades Marathon
MOKOPANE – Runners from the Potties Athletics Club are beaming with pride after their outstanding performances in the 2025 Comrades Marathon. Their dedication, commitment and year-long training, even through the cold winter months, paid off as they took on the ultimate test of endurance. The 98th edition of the world-renowned Comrades Marathon was run last Sunday, and the down-run route from Pietermaritzburg to Durban attracted 20 972 runners from across the world. South Africa's Gerda Steyn once again dominated the women's race, crossing the finish line in an impressive 05:51:19. In the men's race, fellow South African Tete Dijana made the country proud with a time of 05:25:28. Among the brave were 11 runners from Potties Athletics Club who took on the gruelling challenge: Lesiba Letaha (66) led the Potties contingent with a time of 09:54:54. 'It was tough, just like the previous consecutive years – 2022, 2023, 2024, and now 2025. I received the Robert Mtshali medal this year,' he said. Mogobe Mashishi completed the race in 10:01:28. Cecilia Ferreira ran her fifth Comrades and earned a personal best of 10:25:03. 'The route was far, but everything worked from the second group start to every water point. I did hurt my leg early, but I pushed through. I'm happy to have earned my fifth medal, a bronze,' she said. Sello Mobotja finished his third Comrades in 10:37:29. 'There are challenges along the way, and you never know what to expect. No matter how fit you are, the Comrades will humble you,' he said. Lizanie van Staden completed her first Comrades in 10:53:41. Khomotso Mashishi crossed the line in 10:58:41. Sarie Coetzee, a seasoned veteran, finished her 27th Comrades in 11:09:34. Hope Poopedi completed her fourth Comrades in 11:17:18. 'It was a bit tough this year, but the positive energy from fellow runners made it bearable. I didn't train as much as in previous years, but I finished strong. It's always special being part of the Comrades family.' Liza de Jong earned a Vic Clapham medal with a finishing time of 11:24:35. Tienie van Wyngaard concluded the race in 11:56:42. Viola Mashigo tackled her first Comrades and performed admirably, showcasing her determination and spirit. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Comrades Marathon organisers confirm NO deaths during 2025 race
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) early on Wednesday confirmed that there were no reported fatalities during this year's 'down' run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban on Sunday. According to a Comrades Marathon social media post, some reports suggested two runners had died. However, the organisers were quick to dispel such rumours. The post read: 'It has been brought to the attention of the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) that some digital media outlets or accounts are reporting two deaths during the 2025 edition of the race, which took place this past weekend (Sunday, 8 June). 'The CMA and its medical team can confirm that no deaths have been recorded at the 2025 event. 'As can be expected from an event of this nature and size, there were some cases of runners being transferred to hospital from the route, for various medical reasons. 'The CMA medical, emergency, safety and health protocols are excellent, and focused on the safety of all runners,' said CMA General Manager Alain Dalais. 'The CMA distances itself from any fake news or rumours doing the rounds, and suggests that our community rely on reputable sources for information – starting with our own channels,' he added. This year's men's race was won by South Africa's Tete Dijana, with fellow South African Gerda Steyn taking the title in the women's race. For Dijana it was a third 'down' run victory, while Steyn triumphed for a third consecutive time – and fourth overall. Meanwhile, as widely reported, Moira Harding, who went missing after crossing the finish line and was found nearly 15 hours later – and 7km away – remains in hospital having suffered severe hypothermia. This year's Comrades Marathon was the 98th edition of the famed race. 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 Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Elite Comrades runners hindered by missed supplement bottles
Several runners who contested top positions in the 98th Comrades Marathon on Sunday blamed undersized tables used to hold elite athletes' bottles for missing their timed fuelling, believing this led to them cramping at crucial segments of the race. Athletes use various energy gels and supplements needed by their bodies to prevent cramping and other issues. Former Comrades marathon winner Edward Mothibi attributed part of his cramping during the second half of the 89.9km race to missing his nutrition bottles at some of the demarcated elite tables. Speaking during the post-race media conference, Mothibi, who placed fourth in the men's race, said that when they reached about 60km he had started having some problems. 'Just about 25km [distance remaining], I started getting some problems,' he said. 'I kept on cramping and I needed to take water each time. 'There was a stage where I was behind, and [race winner] Tete Dijana had to wait for me and ask, 'brother, what is going on?'. 'I told him I kept on cramping and that it was not a good sign. 'I said, 'You must just go for now, I will catch up.' 'We do take nutrition. I was taking nutrition the whole day, but the sad part is that sometimes we had to kneel and try to grab the [special] drinks, and it was very difficult for us. 'We had to skip drinks every time. Without our Nedbank supporters, we could not have got drinks. At least we got them.' He said there had been no way they could have grabbed the drinks from the floor, so they had skipped them and got them from the Nedbank seconders at the next spot. His club manager, Nick Bester, said they had held three meetings with some of the Comrades Marathon Association committee members, telling them that their approach to elite tables was not going to work. 'It is too complicated. They make it too different,' he said. 'We told them before the time, we said they must allow hand and stand, and they said no, they don't want to allow hand and stand.' Bester said he had spoken to women's winner Gerda Steyn's husband, and she had got only three bottles from the elite water stations. 'So that's unacceptable,' he said. 'If he were not on the motorbike with hired people and supporting her, then it would have been big trouble. 'So that was a shortfall and a shortfall could have been prevented if they had listened to the team managers because we are coming with the race for 45 years.' Another elite athlete, who also struggled grabbing the bottles, was Maxed Elite's new star signing, Joseph Manyedi. Manyedi said that during the last 14km of the race he had struggled with cramps when pushing the pace while pursuing Mothibi and Piet Wiersma, who were a few metres in front of him. Manyedi said elite athletes should have their own people second them on the road. Runners and managers from other clubs did not want to speak on record, but also voiced their frustrations. Comrades Marathon Association general manager Alain Dalais confirmed some club managers had spoken to him about the height of the elite water station tables. 'I''s our second year attempting the elite stations,' he said. 'We will take that feedback constructively and look at continuing to improve it next year.' — WATCH: We are the Champions News Agency
eNCA
09-06-2025
- Sport
- eNCA
Warriors of the Comrades Down Run
South Africa is witnessing a golden era of ultramarathon performance. Over the past few years, local runners have stamped their dominance on the Comrades Marathon. Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn have earned international acclaim through consistency, discipline and remarkable pace over gruelling distances. Dijana, a security guard, inspires many with his humble background and meteoric rise to a three-time Comrades winner. Steyn, who has won multiple Two Oceans Marathons, has set a new standard for women's distance running in South Africa. MEN'S COMRADES DOWN RUN WINNERS Year Winner Country Time 2025 Tete Dijana South Africa 5:25:28 2023 Tete Dijana South Africa 5:13:58 2019 Edward Mothibi South Africa 5:31:33 2018 Bongmusa Mthembu South Africa 5:26:34 2016 David Gatebe South Africa 5:18:19 MEN'S DOWN RUN RECORD HOLDER 2023 Tete Dijana South Africa 5:13:58 In 2023, Dijana mounted an incredible race to smash the down run record previously held by David Gatebe by over four minutes. WOMEN'S COMRADES DOWN RUN WINNERS Year Winner Country Time 2025 Gerda Steyn South Africa 5:51:19 2023 Gerda Steyn South Africa 5:44:54 2019 Gerda Steyn South Africa 5:58:53 2018 Ann Ashworth South Africa 6:10:04 2016 Charne Bosman South Africa 6:25:55 WOMEN'S DOWN RUN RECORD HOLDER 2023 Gerda Steyn South Africa 5:44:54 Steyn is widely regarded as the queen of ultra-distance running in South Africa. Her 2023 win not only marked a personal best but broke a record previously held by Frith van der Merwe since 1989.
TimesLIVE
09-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Dijana says he conquered ‘the devil' to win 2025 Comrades
Tete Dijana felt he conquered 'the devil' by winning the 2025 Comrades Marathon on Sunday's , recovering from a gruelling run where he struggled with dizziness and cramps to finish 14th last year. The 37-year-old from Mahikeng in the North West crossed the line in 5hrs 25min 28sec to bag his third Comrades Marathon down run triumph. He won the back-to-back downs in 2022 and 2023. Dijana beat second-placed Dutchman and last year's winner Piet Wiersma by just five seconds, replicating the sprint finish between the Nedbank Running Club teammates and result of the last down race in 2023.
