There is great optimism that yet another South African runner could claim victory in the Comrades Marathon on Sunday. Experts in long-distance running cited natural speed‚ leg power and mental strength among key factors that have boosted local athletes in the down run of the unforgiving 90km ultra-race. Going into Sunday’s race‚ six winners in the past nine editions of the race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban have been South African, since policeman Andrew Kelehe arrested the dominance of foreigners in 2001. "South African runners now know how to choose races carefully. They no longer over-race before the Comrades‚" said Willie Mtolo‚ a two-time Comrades runner-up who also has eight gold medals. The 1992 New York Marathon champion‚ who guided Bong’musa Mthembu to his 2014 down-run triumph‚ added that "running the Comrades requires a person who is strong mentally and ready to take the pain". He picked Mthembu and defending down-run champion David Gatebe as favourites. Mtolo’s sentime...
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