Strange but true… Saturday’s Old Mutual Two Oceans 56km ultra-marathon has been outgrown by its little sister, writes Mark Etheridge.
Yes, the half-marathon (21.1km) celebrates its 10th birthday on Saturday and has attracted a field of just on 11,000 compared to the 8,000 who will tackle the ultra. Last year international athletes Cuthbert Nyasango (Zimbabwe, 62min 54sec) and Helaria Johannes (Namibia, 73:35) set course records on the none-too-easy course.
This year’s women’s race should be one of the best ever, with the diminutive Tegla Loroupe of Kenya lining up.
“I’m busy preparing for a half marathon in Italy in two weeks, but you can be certain I’ll still go flat-out on Saturday,” said Loroupe, 33, at a JAG Sports Foundation Function in the city last night.
“I don’t know anything about the Two Oceans course, but I’ll just give it my best shot.”
A total of 41 athletes have run all nine previous half-marathons.
Source: Cape Argus, April 04 2007
Author: Mark Etheridge
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