The previous record field was 13 221 in 2009, before entries were limited in order to avoid major congestion on the route. More than13 500 of this years record field are from South Africa, 249 from Africa (112 of them from Zimbabwe) and 269 from overseas.
The half marathon field has contributed R90 000 towards the official race charity, Bobs for Good, which means that 900 school children from underprivileged backgrounds will get a new pair of South African made leather school shoes.
An elated race director, Rowyn James, said his office had trouble turning away some athletes, who still wanted to be part of the event even after the numbers had clocked and entries had closed.
The response to this race has been incredible and our office is inundated with calls on a daily basis from people looking for half marathon entries, said James.
Three Zimbabwean runners Honest Mutsakani (2001), Moses Munjodzi (2006) and Marko Mambo (2004, 2005 and 2008) have won the 56 km event, while no Zimbabwean woman has ever won the 56 km event.
This years prize money will be increased by 47 per cent, with the winner of the male and female events taking home R125 000 and R65 000 respectively. The second and third place male and female runners will each receive R125 000 and R65 000 respectively, with the total prize money on offer for the event being just under R1.5 million.
Post published in: Football