Durban – In six hours and 17 minutes (6:17:48 to be confirmed) Russian runner Alexandra Morozova crossed the Comrades Marathon finish line at the Durban Moses Mabhida Stadium.
This was Morozova’s second victory this week after she beat a ban to compete in the race just the day before.
Elite runner Morozova was allowed to compete after she won her urgent court application at the Pietermaritzburg High Court to be allowed to run in the race.
This was after her registration was removed as the Comrades Marathon Association said it was acting on the instructions of World Athletics which called for Russian elite athletes who will win prize money to be barred from entering any of its affiliated races due to the conflict in Ukraine.
In a TV interview, Morozova said winning the race was a dream come true, adding that it’s one of the toughest races.
Morozova said that she felt like this year was her year to win and she was very happy to have beaten other elite women runners.
Domenika Stelmach came in second place and Adele Broodryk was third.
The spectators couldn’t believe it when Jenna Challenor, who came in fourth, fell a few metres from the finish line, she had to use all the strength she had left to make it through and finished at six hours, 42 minutes and 14 seconds.