South African
marathoners prepare to take on the world
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
13 April 2000 – Olympic marathon champion Josiah Thugwane opens his campaign to retain his title when he competes in the Flora London Marathon on Sunday.
It is a crucial weekend for South African marathon runners as they seek to achieve Athletics South Africa’s (ASA) Olympic qualifying standard of 2:11.00 (men) and 2:32:00 (women).
These standards are three minutes and a minute faster than the official Olympic qualifiers for the men and women respectively. Banele Sindani, the ASA Chief Executive, defends this on the grounds that the country has in recent years developed a lot of depth in marathon.
Thugwane who was third in London in 1997, is modest about what he wants to achieve on Sunday. "My aim this time is to qualify for the Sydney Olympics," said Thugwane.
"For the past two years, l have suffered from a recurring groin injury. As a result l was unable to complete the New York and London marathons in the last two years. l have recovered from the injury and my preparations for this race have progressed well.
"Over the past two months, I have been training in Thabazimbi (in South Africa’s North West province) and followed the same training schedule on the same course l used before l went and won the Fukoka marathon in 2:07.28,"said Thugwane.
His performance in Fukoka in 1997, saw him better the then South African record of 2:08.04 which was set by Zithulele Sinqe in 1989. Last year, Gert Thys shattered Thugwane’s mark with 2:06.33 at the Tokyo marathon, to become the fourth fastest marathon runner of all time.
Thugwane’s success in Atlanta, had a significant effect in shifting the training and competition paradigm among South Africa elite marathon runners. Previously, many of them competed in at least six marathons a year, because in most cases it was and still is their primary source of income.
After Atlanta, many doors opened for Thugwane to compete abroad and earn more money from endorsements, appearance fees, sponsorship and prize money. This has led many of his compatriots to run fewer races and focus on quality performances.
The net effect is that 17 South Africans have on at least one occasion run the marathon in less than 2:13:00 in the last four years. What’s more South Africans generally have a remarkable capacity to recover after their races.
The quest for Olympic glory, and the potential to earn big money at subsequent major international marathons, has contrived to intensify the competition for places on the South Africa Olympic marathon team.
Thugwane’s compatriots at the London marathon will include Thys, Hendrik Ramaala who improved his national record by 48 seconds to 59:19 at the Lisbon half marathon, Simon Mpulanyane (2:10:56) and Joseph Maqala (2:14:44). Last year the little-known Maqala was fifth at the Monaco marathon, his first race away from home.
On the same day in Rotterdam, Shadrack Hoff who holds the national 5000m record and national half marathon champion, makes his debut at the full marathon. He say moving on to the road circuit will secure his future after he retires from competing.
His confidence is high after a two-month high altitude training stint with some of the world’s most famous athletes in Eldoret, Kenya. Like Ramaala, Hoff has the leg speed having achieved 5000m and 10,000m Olympic qualification in February.
"My Kenyan brothers say that l am capable of running a sub 2:10.00. If l stay with the lead group during the race and as long as l find myself in the company of those speaking in Kiswahili, then l know l am on track for a good time," said Hoff.
Besides being Africa’s most widely spoken indigenous language, Kiswahili is the national language in Tanzania and Kenya. Other leading South African runners at Rotterdam will include Andries Khulu (2:09:36) and Ezael Thlobo (2:09.54).
John Monyatso, who was the pacesetter for the first 30km at the national marathon championships in March, aims to make his mark at the Hamburg Marathon on Sunday.
"Although l was only the pace setter at the national championships, l still felt strong when l pulled out at 32 km. I have put behind me the poor showing at the World Championships in Seville. It was my first race on the world stage and l learnt a lot from it. I am in good shape and l am looking to run 2:10:00," said Monyatso.
Another brigade of South Africans lead by Makhosonke Fika (2:10:39), Frank Pooe (2:11.37) and Abner Chipu (2:12.45) swings into action at the Boston marathon on Monday. Last year Pooe and Chipu were third and fourth respectively.
Fika and Chipu who were pace setters at the Tokyo marathon say they are aiming high in Boston. "I aim at setting a personal best and that should place me among the top finishers," said Fika.
"This year l want to win the race. My training has gone very well and l know l will do my best," said Chipu.
Laban Nkete who made his marathon debut at Rheims last year says he is in good company and should improve on the 2:14 that saw him place ninth in Rheims last year. "The undulating course in Boston suits me better than Rheims. Therefore, l expect to improve my career best substantially," said Nkete.
Elana Meyer is South Africa’s main hope in the women’s race. "I have been stuck around 2:27 in my last three marathons, which lead me to change coach and modify my training schedule. My aim is to run 2:25 which will place me among the medal contenders in Sydney" said Meyer who was the 10,000m silver medallist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
