FEATURE: Africa and its total domination of long distance running
Africa and its domination of long distance running
By Michael Sherman
JOHANNESBURG, May 25 (ANA) – With South Africa’s Irvette van Zyl setting a new women’s 50km world record over the weekend in Gqeberha, Africans can now lay an even bigger claim to global domination in long distance running.
Van Zyl beat the previous record (3:07:20) held by Britain’s Alyson Dixon by almost three minutes, as the SA runner crossed the line in 3:04:23.
Billed as the 50km world record attempt featuring a number of pace-makers in both the men’s and women’s races, two world marks fell on the day. Ethiopia’s Ketema Negasa won the men’s race in 2:42:07. It bettered the previous mark of 2:43:38 held by SA’s Thompson Magawana.
On the women’s side, African-born athletes (Ethiopian-born Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands holds the one mile and 5km women only mark) own every world record from 1500m to 50km, with the exception of the 5km road and 3000m marks.
On the men’s side, African-born athletes hold every world record from 800m to 50km. Somali-born British athlete Mo Farah owns the one-hour world record, in a list of records otherwise completely African.
The exploits of Van Zyl and Negasa were the latest exclamation mark on the African domination of long distance running.
South Africa, in fact, have a long-held pedigree in ultra-distance (races over the standard 42.2km marathon). Until the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, the Two Oceans (56km) and Comrades Marathon (89km) were the two most revered long distance races in the country, and arguably the world.
The Two Oceans marathon is staged in Cape Town, while the Comrades Marathon alternates between an up-run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and a down-run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
Thousands of runners line up behind the elite runners in both races every year, with the top runners in the events almost hero-worshipped in running circles in South Africa.
SA’s Gerda Steyn is a two-time (2018 and 2019) Two Oceans marathon women’s winner, and claimed the Comrades Marathon women’s title in 2019. She is also now the SA record holder in the marathon with her 2:25:28 in Italy achieved in April.
Steyn’s exploits, though rare, show that ability in the ultra distances can translate to the standard marathon, and her personal bests over 21.1km and 10km are also world class.
As for the world records in the marathon, they are held unsurprisingly by a couple of incredible Kenyans.
Brigid Kosgei beat the long-held women’s record at the 2019 Chicago Marathon when she crossed the line in 2:14:04. The previous record had been held by Britain’s Paula Radcliffe for 16 years since 2003.
Among the men, Eliud Kipchoge owns the marathon world record with his time of 2:01:39 he set at the Berlin Marathon in 2018.
The reason behind the African domination in long distance running is difficult to pinpoint, but there are a number of factors that lead runners from the continent to become highly competitive.
Running is arguably the most accessible sport in the world, and starting out all one needs is a pair of running shoes – though many African athletes do not even begin with that. Cross Country is also extremely popular across a number of African nations, and there most runners do not wear shoes.
Cross country is also one of the purest forms of athletics competitions, due to undulating courses, sharp turns and the high number of participants in each race.
Though numerous African nations are poverty-stricken, that has not proved to be a hurdle in producing top runners. The best example is perhaps Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie. The two-time Olympic 10 000m and four-time world champion began his running career by running 10 kilometres to and from school every day. He used to carry his books in his left arm, and that led to him developing a distinctive style which would become famous on the long distance running stage.
Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei is also a quadruple world record holder. He owns the 5000m, 5km road, 10 000m and 15km road world records. At age 24, his time at the top has only just started and his world supremacy could continue for several years still.
Whether it be accessibility, opportunity or desire to rise out of poverty – African athletes do not seem to be slowing down in long distance running, and long may it continue. – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman