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Johannesburg - This year's Comrades Marathon made a Guinness World Record for the most runners in an ultra-marathon, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) said on Tuesday.
The field was the largest since the turn of the millennium, with 14 343 runners completing the race within the 12-hour cut-off time, the CMA said in a statement.
"Applying for the record attempt was quite a process, and organising and collecting all the necessary evidence was an event in itself," said CMA marketing co-ordinator Thami Vilakazi.
"Achieving this feat was a wonderful and befitting way to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the ultimate human race," he said.
Vilakazi said witness statements independently corroborating the achievement were submitted to Guinness World Records by Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business chief executive officer Andrew Layman and The Witness newspaper's general manager of national sales and marketing Dave Erasmus.
"We have long been of the belief that the ultimate human race was a feat in itself. It's good to have that confirmed by such an authoritative body," said Layman.
"It is very special that 'The City of Choice' that is Pietermaritzburg, can once again host a Guinness World Record.
It is extremely rewarding and is a definite 'thumbs-up' to all those who make the Comrades not just possible, but successful, year in and year out," added Erasmus.
