George Kusche claimed victory in the Comrades Marathon with a record up run time of 5:15:56, earning a total of R2.3 million in prizemoney, including R925,000 for first place, R242,000 as the first South African, R605,000 for the new race record, and R550,000 for the fastest average pace record. Picture: Comrades Marathon/Facebook
Image: Comrades Marathon/Facebook
In another memorable Comrades Marathon men’s race, it was George Kusche who emerged victorious in a record run time in the event from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.
Kusche crossed the line in a record up run time of 5:15:56 after a perfectly paced performance in which he only took the lead with less than an hour to go of the race. With a 2:13 marathon personal best (PB), Kusche has made the perfect progression to emerge triumphant in the Ultimate Human Race.
Piet Wiersma was second in 5:19:36, with Mbuti Mollo taking third in 5:21:31.
With his win, Kusche earned a first place prize of R925,000, another R242,000 as the first South African and a whopping R605,000 for the new race record. In addition Kusche was awarded a further R550,000 for the fastest average pace record. That all adds up to an incredible R2.3m in total.
1 George Kusche 5:15:56 (R2,322,000)
2 Piet Wiersma 5:19:36 (R464,000)
3 Mbuti Mollo 5:21:31 (R334,000)
4 Alex Milne 5:22:29 (R168,00)
5 Haruki Okayama 5:24:46 (R131,000)
6 Charles Lawrence 5:27:08 (R76,000)
7 Lloyd Bosman 5:28:53 (R66,00)
8 Nikolai Volkov 5:28:59 (R58,000)
9 Vasilii Korytkin 5:28:29 (R49,000)
10 Tebogo Pulusa 5:29:40 (R39,000)
George Kusche over the finish line.
Image: Facebook/Comrades Marathon