Winner of the female category, American athlete Camille Herron, running past the Damelin stand.
Championed by the students and staff of Damelin Overport, with support from the Durban City and Pietermaritzburg branches, the 70-year brand successfully hosted a water station at the 21km mark, just 1km away from the first cut-off.
At dawn, over one hundred Damelin staff and students boarded a bus at the Overport campus and set out to Camperdown in preparation for this ultimate human race. Upon arrival, the Damelin team excitedly assumed their tasks, setting up the entertainment area, decking the roadside with gazebos and tables, unpacking water and Energade sachets and cutting up fruit rich in Vitamin C and potassium as nourishment for the runners.
The Damelin stand dominated the area with a vibrant and electric atmosphere that attracted Comrades Marathon officials and locals from the community, who joined the stand dancing to the rhythm of the comrades beat and cheering the runners on.
It was 04h17mins into the race when the marathon fever heightened at the Damelin stand, as helicopters hovered over and an entourage of traffic officials led the way for the first runner to pass. Staff and students cheered him on and soon after a number of racers followed.
The first female that passed the stand was none other than the winner of the female category, American athlete Camille Herron. The team continued to offer support by supplying water, Energade and massage services as well as words of motivation to the athlete’s en route to Pietermaritzburg. “Water please, water,” were the words that bellowed from runners, some even dunking their heads in ice for relief.
Damelin staff handing out water to the runners en route to Pietermaritzburg.
The rainbow of colours that climbed the hill to the first cut-off was a true reflection of a proud nation. Although not everyone made the mark, the spirit of togetherness and perseverance continued, as Damelin volunteers clapped and cheered, encouraging the runners to never give up.
General Manager for Damelin Overport, Charles Minnaar, said that there is no greater feeling than rallying together as a team and community to support milestone events like the Comrades Marathon. “The Comrades represents a union of the world’s athletes on our home turf and Damelin was proud to play a key role in this event. Up until the cut-off time at 3pm, nine hours into the race, the runners amazed our team with their thanks and appreciation for providing them with support. Running past screaming, ‘Thank You Damelin,’ the runners made us feel completely and utterly gratified at the end of it all,” said Charles.
Damelin staff spreading the Comrades cheer at the 21km mark.
Damelin would like to congratulate all athletes who participated in the 2017 Comrades Marathon, on this momentous milestone. Special congratulations go out to South Africa’s Bongmusa Mthembu on securing first place in the male category in 05:35:34 and Camille on completing the race in 06:27:35.
Damelin, recently voted one of the top five ‘Coolest Colleges’ in the country, always aspires to create innovative and inspiring ways in which we can teach our students. For more information on Damelin and its variety of courses, visit the Damelin website on www.damelin.co.za or call 0860 532 887.
