Last year’s champion Caroline Wöstmann (KPMG) finished second, but what a second place finish it was. It is hard to remember when last, if ever, the last 20 kilometres provided such a theatre of deliberation, pain and agony.
No wonder an elated Bosman said: “It is amazing to win at long last. It is a dream come true. I am very happy but all credit to God who gave me the talent to run.”
Wöstmann set out as if she had another appointment later the same afternoon. At one stage she had a lead of almost 12 minutes on Bosman and it looked like a forgone conclusion that she would win. Unfortunately for Wöstmann her own words turned out to become true in a way she might not have envisioned.
In an early interview Wöstmann, who trains at the High Performance Centre (hpc), said: “Comrades is a tough race where nothing is guaranteed. You can be in the best shape of your life but come race day you realise, right from your very first step, that it is going to be long hard slog.”
And that was exactly how it turned out. A very long hard slog. Wöstmann started cramping after about 20 kilometres. Having a brief altercation with a motorbike at a water point certainly did not help matters, but Wöstmann refuses to use that as an excuse.
From Cowies Hill Wöstmann started to walk more than she was running and it became abundantly clear that she was getting into more agony with every step. But a grimacing Wöstmann refused to give up.
In contrast Bosman, who also trains at the High Performance Centre (hpc), just became stronger and stronger behind her.
“I started hearing from spectators that Caroline was cramping but because I was still 10 minutes behind I realised that I should not get over excited. It was important to just stick to my race strategy,” the Nedbank-athlete said.
