COMRADES MARATHON CANCELLED By Riël Hauman (c) 2020 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.
(16-May) -- The world's largest ultramarathon, the Comrades Marathon, has been cancelled. In a statement the South African governing body for athletics and road running, Athletics South Africa (ASA), said that the decision was taken after consultations between the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) and the provincial governing body, Kwazulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA). The race was originally scheduled for June 14, but a month ago was postponed "to a suitable date" later in the year. The epic race, which recorded 16,702 finishers in 2019, was to be a "down" run this year from Pietermaritzburg to Durban over approximately 90 km.
The last time the Comrades was cancelled was during World War II when it was not held for five years, between 1941 and 1945.
Making the announcement, ASA President Aleck Skhosana said through a statement: "Cancelling what would have been the 95th edition of the Comrades Marathon was a long and arduous decision to make. With the race's rich history, its powerful nation-building attributes and contribution towards social cohesion, as well as its immense economic impact, it would have been premature to rush into an outright cancellation sooner. However, we believe we have jointly arrived at the correct decision to protect the health and safety of all concerned as well as the lives of our fellow South Africans."
CMA Chairperson Cheryl Winn, who won the race in 1982, said: "It is with profound sadness and regret that the CMA Board, in conjunction with ASA and KZNA, had to make this decision. We do so with the knowledge that it will come as a great disappointment to thousands of Comrades runners, who together with us at CMA, have been holding out hope that the race would somehow proceed."
The 2021 race will again be a "down" run. The race reverses direction each year between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Last year was an "up" run, starting in Durban.
The statement said South African entrants to this year's race will not be refunded their entry fee, but will receive the 2020 race T-shirt, goodie bag, Comrades badge and flash. Foreign entries will be carried over to 2021 and/or 2022, depending on the athletes' wishes.
The 2019 race was won by South Africans Edward Mothibi and Gerda Steyn.
PHOTO: Runners on the course of the Comrades Marathon in an undated photo (photo courtesy of Comrades Marathon Association)
