Making its debut back in 2021, the first edition saw two new world records being set in the men’s and women’s races with another being broken this year in the men’s race. The fact that the course is fast and an elite label event by governing body World Athletics has piqued the interest of many competitive international athletes. 

“The interest in next year’s event has been very promising and we have received entries and interest from athletes all around the world,” said Nick Bester, event race director and national team manager of the Nedbank running club. “With the new race date and Comrades moving back to June, the event is the ideal springboard for Comrades runners looking for a great qualifier and also training towards the race.”

2022 Comrades Marathon champion Tete Dijana finished 2nd in this year’s race, which was the steppingstone to the quiet young man who is now a household name. Dijana will be back for next year’s event and will be looking at going one position better. With times getting faster and faster worldwide, the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km is an extremally fast course and runners can take full advantage of this. 

Run on a 10km loop course which the runners will have to complete 5 times, the course is at sea level and conducive to running fast. “I think just by looking at the 3 world records and so many world age bests and national records, we have a course that you cannot fault at all,” said Bester.  Added to that are the financial benefits runners can take advantage of. With a total prize purse of over R1 million as well as R120 000 in Nike vouchers, athletes will be rewarded for their performances. 

Runners also have the opportunity to run qualifying times for both the World Championships and Olympic Games, with official timing split mats situated at the marathon mark. “If an athlete runs under a qualifying time for the marathon through the marathon mark in our event, they will be able to use that official split time as a qualifier,” said Bester. 

Bester urges those who have not entered yet to get their entries in to avoid disappointment. “We only have space for 300 elite athletes across the men’s and women’s races and currently there are only about 40 entries left,” says Bester. “As we have seen with these previous two years, the event has provided a platform to athletes to announce themselves on the world stage, and with TV broadcast around the world and livestream, their families, sponsors and supporters can witness them making history.”  

The Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km returns to Marine Drive in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality on 26 February 2023.

Elite runners and competitive age group athletes who wish to compete in the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km ultramarathon, need to submit their CV to nbsport@lantic.net and nickb@lantic.net.  Qualifying athletes will receive an invite and voucher to enter online at easyreg.co.za website.

Race Office Queries: 012-5410577.