JOHANNESBURG, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The 2013 Comrades Marathon on Sunday ended successfully at the southeastern South Africa with its runner Claude Moshiywa becoming the champion.
The 2013 Comrades Marathon kicked off at 05:30 a.m.local time in the southeastern port city of Durban, concluding in the Kuazulu-Natal provincial capital of Pietermaritzburg at 05:30 p.m.local time.
It is an ultra-marathon of approximately 89 kilometers, attracting nearly 18,000 runners from around the world.
Moshiywa completed his race in five hours 32 seconds in the men's race, becoming the first South African to win the up run (from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, while down run is from Pietermaritzburg to Durban) in more than 20 years.
Swedish runner Jonas Buud came second following Moshiywa, while Mpesela Ntlosoeu from Lesotho finished in the third position.
Russian twins Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva took the first and second place respectively in the women's race. Among them, Elena won the women's race in 6 hours 27 minutes.
The race aroused the interests of the South African government officials. It was reported about 190 officials from Department of Correctional Services participated in the race.
The first Comrades Marathon took place in 1921, and has been run every year since except World War II.
On Saturday the organizers Comrades Marathon Association said the Comrades Marathon is the biggest and best ultramarathon in the world and the most inclusive sporting event in South Africa.