Close on 100 intrepid runners from all corners of South Africa and a number of internationals were set off on the 40th TLB Washie 100 Miler at 5pm yesterday.
It is the largest Washie field in years and the excitement among the 53 novices and veteran runners alike was tangible when Marion Kelly, the grandaughter of Granville Washington Whifield, after who the race is named, set them on their journey from Port Alfred to East London.
In discussion with Don Underwood, the winner of the 1979 Washie 100, he was asked when exactly a race like the Washie could be won or lost?
To which he replied: “The stretch between the Hamburg turn-off and the Chalumna Cuttings is the most telling.”
Underwood does point out, however, that the severity of the hill in the cuttings is less taxing than it was in his day, now that the new road is in place.
Underwood adds that once a leading runner gets to Igoda and no one is chasing, they have the luxury of cruising in to the finish.
Johan van der Merwe, four time winner and record holder, who will not be in the field due to injury, concurs with earlier media sentiments that Mcebisi Yose of All Stars is the man to beat.
“He has had very similar finishing times over the past three years and his experience should come in handy even when taking on runners with good Comrades times,” says Van der Merwe.
Van der Merwe believes that last year’s third placed Tolang Moloi of SANDF WP is in with a good chance after a strong finish. He further likes the pedigree of the Johannesburg branch of Born 2 Run’s Justin Sher. Sher ran a good silver medal time at Comrades in May.
Over and above the men, Van der Merwe further concurs with the opinion expressed earlier this week that Tuks AC’s Carien Visser, although a novice, could well take both the women’s title and finish first overall.
Other than Visser in the women’s field, another novice who could show strongly this morning and through the day is Helene Anderson from RunAvation in Pretoria and with Megan Davey, twice winner of the Washie in the field, the women’s race should finish anytime from 10am today onwards.
Hazel Moller from Bedfordview will be running her eighth Washie delivering all the experience required for a good finish.
The first runner to finish will likely arrive at the Buffalo Club between 9 and 9.30am, if the form book is to be believed.
Fresh faces line up for Washie
It is the largest Washie field in years and the excitement among the 53 novices and veteran runners alike was tangible when Marion Kelly, the grandaughter of Granville Washington Whifield, after who the race is named, set them on their journey from Port Alfred to East London.
In discussion with Don Underwood, the winner of the 1979 Washie 100, he was asked when exactly a race like the Washie could be won or lost?
To which he replied: “The stretch between the Hamburg turn-off and the Chalumna Cuttings is the most telling.”
Underwood does point out, however, that the severity of the hill in the cuttings is less taxing than it was in his day, now that the new road is in place.
Underwood adds that once a leading runner gets to Igoda and no one is chasing, they have the luxury of cruising in to the finish.
Johan van der Merwe, four time winner and record holder, who will not be in the field due to injury, concurs with earlier media sentiments that Mcebisi Yose of All Stars is the man to beat.
“He has had very similar finishing times over the past three years and his experience should come in handy even when taking on runners with good Comrades times,” says Van der Merwe.
Van der Merwe believes that last year’s third placed Tolang Moloi of SANDF WP is in with a good chance after a strong finish. He further likes the pedigree of the Johannesburg branch of Born 2 Run’s Justin Sher. Sher ran a good silver medal time at Comrades in May.
Over and above the men, Van der Merwe further concurs with the opinion expressed earlier this week that Tuks AC’s Carien Visser, although a novice, could well take both the women’s title and finish first overall.
Other than Visser in the women’s field, another novice who could show strongly this morning and through the day is Helene Anderson from RunAvation in Pretoria and with Megan Davey, twice winner of the Washie in the field, the women’s race should finish anytime from 10am today onwards.
Hazel Moller from Bedfordview will be running her eighth Washie delivering all the experience required for a good finish.
The first runner to finish will likely arrive at the Buffalo Club between 9 and 9.30am, if the form book is to be believed.
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