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By Riel Hauman
Five-time Comrades winner Wally Hayward, called by many --including Bruce Fordyce-- the greatest Comrades runner ever, will be honoured by the introduction in 2007 of a medal named for him. The Wally Hayward medal will be awarded to runners who fail to earn a gold medal, given to the top-10 male and female finishers, yet finish in under six hours.
Hayward, who died shortly before the 81st running of South Africa's biggest ultramarathon earlier this year, won the Comrades in 1930, 1950, 1951, 1953 and 1954. In 1953 he became the first runner to complete the race, a "down" run, in less than six hours when, at the age of 45, he clocked 5:52:30.
Eleventh place has always been regarded as the worst position to finish, and with the new medal the Comrades Marathon Asociation (CMA) wants to reward those runners who miss the coveted golds.
"Anyone who can break six hours for the Comrades Marathon is an elite runner, but these days not all of them earn gold medals," said CMA Chairman Dave Dixon. "This new medal is our way of recognizing these outstanding performances, and providing an incentive to those elite athletes who miss their gold."
Dixon added that the Hayward medal is the CMA's way of honouring Hayward, whose Comrades career spanned an incredible sixty years. "He is still the oldest person ever to finish the race. In creating this medal, the CMA salutes a man who epitomized the spirit of the race and who inspired thousands of men and women to run it."
In 1988 Hayward returned to the Durban to Pietermaritzburg road for the first time since 1954 and, at the age of 79, beat over half the field to finish in 9:44:03. One year later the country watched in awe as the octogenarian crossed the finish line in 10:58:03, just under the then 11 hour cut-off.
The CMA also unveiled its theme for the 2007 Comrades Marathon: "The Ultimate Human Race – It Will Define You." Another change is the return of Reebok to the Comrades family of sponsors and suppliers, as the iconic brand becomes the new footwear and apparel supplier to the event.
The 2007 Comrades will be a down run from the Pietermaritzburg City Hall to Sahara Kingsmead Stadium in Durban and will be held on Sunday, June 17, the first ever running of the race on a Sunday.
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