EDUCATION and sport development MEC, Sello Lehari congratulated North West athletes who participated in the 91^st edition of comrade’s marathon in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday.

Lehari said the province felt immensely proud to retain the title in the male category.

David Gatebe, 35, from Sunrise Park in Rustenburg won the title in record time. Last year, Gift Kelehe was the champion.

“We want to applaud our athletes for making Bokone Bophirima proud. I am extremely elated by the fact that again one of our residents in the province is the champion of the Comrades Marathon. Four of them were inclined in the top 100,” he said.

Lehari added that they implore on the female athletes from the province to participate in the marathon. He jokingly said the North West province is the Home of Comrade Marathon now.

“The North West province will continue to support its athletes. We also provided our athletes with transport, meals, hotel accommodation and sportswear,” he said.

Gatebe scooped R1.4m prize money. He also beat the Comrades Marathon record. Gatebe also won Two Oceans Marathon back in 2013.

“I am extremely happy and excited that hard work has paid off. I have spent about 2 months preparing myself at the mountains in Mpumalanga. I will forever cherish this day,” he said.

Gatebe claimed victory in the male open race in five hours, 18 minutes and 19 seconds -breaking the existing record of five hours, 18 minutes and 49 seconds which was the fastest time in the history of the Comrades Marathon.

In 2015, Gift Kelehe from Sekhing Village in Taung won the race while his brother Andrew Kelehe won it in 2001.

-TDN

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