| COMRADES MARATHON MEDIA RELEASE NO. 2005/24 MR PRICE ANNOUNCES THEIR LINE-UP FOR COMRADES 2005 Vladimir Kotov, winner of the last two "Up Runs" will spearhead the colourful Mr Price "elite team" in this year's Comrades Marathon. The Mr Price squad was announced this week by Gwen van Lingen, director of the team, in Durban. It includes several high-profile runners who will likely finish in the Top 10 of the men's and women's race. Kotov, who is now resident in South Africa and runs for Mr Price Western Province, is a full-time athlete and has an outstanding record in the world-famous ultramarathon. His personal best and the record for the Comrades Marathon "Up Run" is 5:25:33 in 2000. Fusi Nhlapo, who won the 2003 Comrades Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, will be back this year and running in the red colours of the Mr Price team. He was forced out of the race last year because of an injury. Nhlapo's Comrades best is 5:28:52 when he won the last "Down Run" in 2003. The others in the team include: Frans Chauke (Comrades PB 6:11:55 in 2004), Walter Nkosi (Comrades PB 5:38:15 in 2001), Simon "Babyface" Mphulanyane (Comrades PB 5:44:10 in 2004), Jacob Mazibuko (debut Comrades), Zamile Gebashe (Comrades PB 6:37:02 in 2004), Moses Lepheana (debut Comrades), Mluleki Nobanda (Comrades debut 2004 DNF), Joseph Maerman (Comrades debut 2004 DNF), Joseph Ikaneng (Comrades PB 5:41:08 in 1999), Jaroslaw Janicki (Comrades PB 5:30:11 winner in 1999) and Sandile Lembeth. In the women's team Mr Price are expected to tie the loose ends to the contracts of Russian twins – Olesya and Elena Nurgalieva – and Marina Bychkova. The three Russians ran the Old Mutual Two Oceans recently – the twins coming first and second, while Bychkova finished in the Top 10. Van Lingen confirmed that Kotov was acting as Mr Price's spokesman and will be finalising the contracts later this week. Among the South Africans in the Mr Price women's team are Frith van der Merwe, who has won the race three times and will be running for "Gold" once again, Grace de Oliviera, Yolande MacLean, who made her mark last year with a Top 10 finish. _______________________ Statement Release on Tuesday, 19 April 2005 For further information Comrades Marathon Association |
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