Comrades Marathon: Wally Hayward’s age record likely to fall

Comrades Marathon legend Wally Hayward’s record as the oldest person to complete the race is likely to fall on Sunday, 11 June.

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When – not if – 81-year-old Johannes Maros Mosehla crosses the line at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead this weekend, he’ll break Hayward’s record as the oldest competitor to complete the race.

Hayward ran 10:58:03 in 1989 when he was 80, the same year that Frith van der Merwe set the current women’s ‘down’ record of 5:54:43.

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Hayward’s record has stood for a staggering 34 years – and many can still recall him crossing the line.

Mosehla, who runs for Polokwane Athletic Club, will be running his 10th Comrades Marathon.

This will also make him by far the oldest person to join the prestigious Green Number club.

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He was the oldest finisher of the 2022 event by six years in a more than respectable time of 11:31:27.

COMRADES MARATHON START AND FINISH DETAILS

Speaking to The Running Mann, Stuart Mann, Mosehle confirmed he’s in much better shape this year.

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Having run a 3:51 qualifying marathon, Mosehla will be starting in ‘D’ batch and is hoping to stop the clock in under 10 hours in his 10th run.

As for what keeps him fit and healthy, he listed three main disciplines:

• watch what you eat,

• watch how much sleep you get, and

• watch who you sleep with!

If you wish to follow Johannes Mosehla’s progress on Sunday, his race number is 55651.

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The 96th Comrades Marathon will be run on Sunday, 11 June 2023, starting at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 05:30 and ending 12 hours later at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban.

The race will be the 48th Comrades ‘down’ run.