Old Mutual is making the world’s most beautiful marathon also Africa’s best rewarded ultra marathon adding R1 million to the prize-money awarded to each of the winning male and female runner who breaks the record for the 56km ultra marathon in 2014.
The men’s record of 3:03:44 was set in 1988 by road running legend Thompson Magawana, while Frith van der Merwe set the women’s record a year later in 1989 when she ran 3:30:36.
The closest any runner has come since then is Zimbabwean Marko Mambo, who ran 3:05:39 in 2005, and who has won the race three times. Russian Olesya Nurgalieva ran the second fastest women’s time in 2008 when she crossed the finish line in 3:34:53.
According to Ralph Mupita, CEO for Old Mutual Emerging Markets, “We want to encourage top runners from around South Africa and the rest of Africa to come and compete in the biggest road running event on the African continent.”
Old Mutual have sponsored the event since 1999. The 2014 event will be the 15th year as sponsor, which also coincides with the ultra event’s 45th anniversary. “It’s fitting that we now offer a prize of this size to encourage the world’s best to take part.” - Mohale Ralebitso, Marketing and Communications and Corporate Affairs Director.
This increase in prize money will place the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon among the top five marathons in the world in terms of prize money and assure its status as a highly sought after event by the top ultra runners.
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