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The 42nd edition of the race was delayed after the search for missing swimmer Tristan Dennis continued from early at daybreak until mid-morning.
The 30-year-old went missing on the first day of the world famous race.
However, Dennis was still not found and the search is expected to continue on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, when the action did begin, South African opener water champion Ho was in sensation form.
After one of the closest races in the history of the men's race last year, the 24-year-old from Durban won with a 12 second margin over Mark Meyer in perfect conditions.
His time of 17 minutes and four seconds (17:04) was over a minute quicker than 12 months ago as he convincingly beat Meyer (17:16).
Danie Marias (17:21) came in third position in the 1.6 kilometres dash, while Jordan le Clos (18:10), the brother of Olympic sprint champion Chad, came fourth followed by Chris McGlynn (18:11).
In the women's race, meanwhile, Briton Payne bounced back from the disappointment of 12 months ago to smash the field by half a minute.
Her time of 17:35 was over two minutes faster than last year's winning time of 19:45.
Payne beat last double defending champion, Ashley Twichell, to the finish after the American swam a time 18:05.
It enabled the champion to extend her record as the most successful female athlete in the history of the race.
The 27-year-old clinched her eighth title and stretched her mark further away from that of Natasha Figge, who won between 1990 and 1996.
Another American, Stephanie Peacock, came in a close third behind her compatriot with a time of 18:06.
Michelle Weber (18:12) was the first South African over the line in fifth place, with Brit Holly Hibbott (18:10) ahead of her in fourth.
Results of the Midmar Mile men's race held on Sunday:
1. Chad Ho 17:04
2. Mark Meyer 17:16
3. Danie Marias 17:21
4. Jordan le Clos 18:10
5. Chris McGlynn 18:11
6. Josh Dannhauser 18:13
7. Ashley Hogg 18:15
8. Luke Eewee 18:26
9. Reuben Schoeman 18:35
10. Dayne Odendall 18:50
Wommen's race:
1. Keri-Anne Payne 17 minutes and 35 seconds (17:35)
2. Ashley Twichell 18:05
3. Stephanie Peacock 18:06
4. Holly Hibbott 18:10
5. Michelle Weber 18:12
6. Rene Warnes 18:20
7. Clarice le Roux 18:26
8. Megan Van Wyk 19:01
9. Charlise Oberholzer 19:06
10. Madeleine Crompton 19:08
