'Comrades Marathon remains the main priority' - Adele Broodryk wins Om Die Dam by 10 mins

After successfully defending her Om Die Dam 50km title yesterday, South African ultra marathon starlet Adele Broodryk still dreams of winning the Comrades Marathon title come June. Broodryk produced a sensational run of 3:31:10 to secure a second consecutive victory at the race around the Hartebeespoort Dam as she finished eight minutes faster than last year. The 32-year-old Nedbank Running Club top runner, who pocketed R25 000 for her efforts, believes she would have run even faster if the organizers hadn't change the route and introduced a monster hill in the final kilometre.

Broodryk powering up the last hill with a smile to win the 2023 Om Die Dam 50km Marathon. Photo Credit: Lifutso Mabua.

"I'm pleased I managed to win the race and it means a lot to me. I didn't expect much, I just went out to to run my own race. The weather conditions were not favorable as it was too hot. I think if the route wasn't changed a bit I was going to run a bit faster and challenge for a new course record too. But what is important is that I managed to run at my own pace till the end. This is a good victory for me as I have been training hard for the past few weeks," explains Broodryk, who is lecturer at North West University.

So commanding was her performance in the race run in her home province that Broodryk won by a whopping ten minutes. Annerie Wooding was second in 3:41:37 while 2018 Comrades Marathon winner Ann Ashworth rounded out the podium in 3:45:17. Its a victory that underlines the excellent form that the woman who was the first South African finisher at the 2022 Comrades Marathon currently enjoys.

Broodryk won by ten minutes to underline her excellent form. Annerie Wooding was second with Ann Ashworth third. Photo Credit: SmacPix.

Last month the mother of two took seventh place at the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km in Gqeberha in 3:18:03. And with the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon happening in four weeks time on 15 April, Broodryk is one of the contenders for the top honours. Yet even though she has confirmed her participation in the 56km race, her biggest goal remains Comrades Marathon.

"Yes, I'm going to Two Oceans Marathon next month. There is still time for me to rest then tackle the race, " said a runner who finished third on her Comrades Marathon last year in an impressive time of 6 hrs 26 min 34 sec. "I think the race will serve as great preparation for the Comrades Marathon. I want to do well in Comrades as it was something I planned at the start of the year. So nothing has changed as my prize is on Comrades. I think I have enough training in my tank to do both Two Oceans and Comrades."

Bongumusa Mthembu perfeectly positioned in the men's leading bunch before going on to win the race. Photo Credit: SmacPix.

In the men's race, three time Comrades champion Bongumusa Mthembu showed that he is still one of the leading ultra-Marathon runners in the country by winning the race comfortably in 02:56:33. Pfarelo Mathada arrived 2 minutes 54 seconds later to finish in second behind Mthembu while Comrades gold Medalist Siya Mqambeli took a third position (3:01:57).