The Comrades Marathon Association has announced the conclusion of its latest sponsorship agreement – this time with the Government Employees Medical Scheme.
GEMS will cover the Comrades Underprivileged Runners Programme that accommodates and feeds 800 needy athletes for the race.
The sponsorship will also see the resumption of the ‘Spirit of Comrades’ awards, with three selected runners being given a one-ounce solid gold medal.
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Comrades Marathon Race Director Rowyn James said a total of 17,920 runners had qualified for this year’s race, of which 15,940 were South African. International runners number 1,226, with 754 from the rest of Africa.
Men comprise 80% of the field with 14 753 to 3167 women, and 4413 runners have entered for the first time.
Pundits are expecting record ‘down’ times on the slightly shorter course from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, and local race winners could pocket R1.2m each — R500 000 for the win, R500 000 for a best time, and R200 000 for the first South African.
All of the top 10 men and eight of the women from 2022 have signed up for the 87.701km ultra-marathon.