MBABANE – For decades, the gruelling Comrades Marathon has served as the ultimate test of endurance for Eswatini’s long-distance elite and everyday enthusiasts alike.
Every year, over 50 local athletes from clubs like Zithande, Ngculwini and Golden Foot as well as passionate educators make the pilgrimage to South Africa. However, Eswatini’s strong presence at the world’s most famous ultra-marathon is now under severe threat ahead of the landmark 100th edition in 2027.
South African media reports reveal that thousands of hopefuls, including a vast contingent of emaSwati, risk missing out on the historic race on June 13, 2027. In response to unprecedented global demand, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has abandoned its traditional ‘first come, first served’ registration protocol in favour of a random lucky draw ballot.
Online queues are said to have surpassed 40 000 eager applicants when entries opened, far exceeding the expanded, record field cap of 28 000 places. Race Director Sue Forge confirmed to the South African media that operational constraints that include route safety, daylight limits and the strict 12-hour cut-off make expanding the field beyond 28 000 impossible.
To qualify for the iconic Pietermaritzburg-to-Durban ‘down run’ runners must first submit an officially timed, standard 42.2km marathon within a strict four-hour-and-fifty-minute window during the designated qualification period. Once qualified, entry into the final lineup hinges entirely on the luck of the draw.
With the general ballot closing on September 22, local athletes face an agonising wait for the definitive draw. What was once a test of pure athletic grit has temporarily turned into a game of chance, leaving many emaSwati runners anxious that their dreams of making history on the ultimate stage could be dashed by the luck of a lottery ticket.
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