Vhembe’s long-distance running sensation, Peter Muthubi from Madadzhi Hamulima, received a hero’s welcome upon his return from the 99th edition of the Comrades Marathon. He earned a Wally Hayward Medal after finishing as the 36th male athlete on Sunday, 14 June.
This year’s Comrades Marathon was an “up run” of approximately 86 km, starting at Durban City Hall and ending at the Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg.
The men’s race was won by South African athlete George Kusche, who crossed the finish line in a record time of 5:15:56. Muthubi completed the race in 5:48:31.
A member of the Impala Athletic Club, Muthubi has enjoyed a strong season leading up to the Comrades Marathon. In February, he finished second in the Elands Marathon 42.2 km race in Mpumalanga. He followed that with a third-place finish in the Modie Dam 50 km Marathon, also in Mpumalanga.
Despite his performance, Muthubi remained humble, attributing his success to years of hard work and experience gained through competing in numerous marathons.
“This year’s race was particularly tough because it was an up run,” he said. “I could have done better, but our late arrival in Durban due to logistical challenges worked against us. Nevertheless, I am happy with my performance … It still feels like a dream, and I can hardly believe it has happened.”
Well-known runner Lutendo Maphoto of the Phalaborwa Mining Club, who finished 10th in the 2022 Comrades Marathon, said Muthubi deserved recognition for representing both Vhembe and Limpopo with distinction.
“As a local runner, I am extremely proud of him and happy for his achievement. I hope his success will inspire other athletes to work hard so that we can produce more champions from this part of the country,” said Maphoto.
For a talented full-time athlete such as Muthubi, financial challenges remain a significant obstacle. Support from sponsors and the wider community could go a long way in helping him pursue even greater achievements in future.