Posted: December 27, 2004

Athletics: Marathoner Syster Dies In Car Crash

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

The second-fastest South African marathoner of all-time, Ian Syster, died along with his two month-old son in an auto accident in Keimoes in the Northern Cape, South Africa, on Christmas Day.

His death was reported on the website of News 24 (http://www.news24.com).

Syster, who would have turned 29 years-old next month, drove his car off of a bridge spanning the Orange River on the road between Keimoes and Kenhardt, his BMW automobile plunging into the water. The body of his son, Merzian, was not recovered until the next day, found on the shore of the river about 300 meters from the site of the accident by two boys who were fishing.

"Things were not well between Ian and his girlfriend," South Africa's fastest-ever marathoner Gert Thys told News 24. "He was young and his life was not heading into the right direction."

According to Syster's girlfriend, Maritza Peters, the athlete had been driving to the small town of Prince Albert (where he grew up) to spend time with his family after having an arguement with Ms. Peters the day before; the accident occured at 5:15 a.m. Peters said yesterday she and Syster were planning to get married in the New Year. They were living in Potchefstroom (not Kimberley as previously reported). "At one stage [on the day before Christmas] Ian got into his car and returned to Potchefstroom. But at Upington he turned around and told me he'd rather spend Christmas with me," she added.

Peters, who denided that the athlete had committed suicide, said that they "made up" that day and had a barbecue at the river in the evening. Late that evening Syster decided that he would rather drive to Prince Albert to spend Christmas day with his family. Early the next morning she was awakened by the police bringing the news of the runner's death.

Syster was the current South African marathon champion. He burst onto the running scene in 2001 when he won the RSA marathon title in his debut over the distance, running 2:13:30. (No RSA Championship has been held since.) He did so as an individual entry, because his preparations were kept so secret that his provincial team, Western Province, did not know of his intentions and did not select him. At the time Syster was living in Cape Town and was unemployed, but within less than a year he was one of the world's best marathoners.

Coached initially by George Benjamin (who died last year), he was later advised by Thys and also lived with Thys for a while, but the two had a falling out, and at the time of his death Syster coached himself. He was managed by Glenn Latimer who lives in the United States, in Illinois.

At the 2002 Flora London Marathon, Syster was an improbable fifth place finisher in 2:07:06, cutting more than six minutes from his career best time. After a disappointing 2:16:04 at Chicago later that year, Syster went on to have a strong 2003, finishing ninth at London (2:09:18), seventh at the World Championships (2:10:17, top South African), and first at Beijing 2003 with a huge six minute margin of victory (2:07:49).

His 2004 season was marked by disappointment. He dropped out of the marathons at London and the Olympic Games, and did not contest a fall marathon.

When RRW spoke to him a few weeks ago to enquire whether he would make himself available for the 2005 RSA Marathon Championships and defend his title, he was enthusiastic about the new year, but said he would rather run London than the national title race. He was planning to join the Stellenbosch Athletics Club early in 2005.

Apart from the 2:07:06 run in London in 2002, his other PBs were 28:16 for 10-K (Peachtree, 2002), 43:59 for 15-K (Boilermaker, 2002) and 62:44 for the half-marathon (South African Championships, East London, 2001).

"We have lost a great talent, he could have been the greatest athlete this country had known," Thys added.