Comrades: Can Shvetsov do it again?

Leonid Shvetsov is ready for another Comrades Victory - wearing Nedbank Running Club colours.

Leonid Shvetsov, defending champion and record winner of the last two Comrades marathons, confirmed on Monday that he will be lining up at the start of this year’s Comrades Marathon down run in Pietermaritzburg on 24 of May 2009.

Shvetsov will be competing for the Nedbank Running Club with team mate Herman’s Mokgadi, the first South African runner home in 2008.

“To have a runner of Shvetsov’s pedigree choosing to run in Nedbank colours is an honour and shows how far Nedbank has come in establishing itself as a major sponsor and supporter of South African road running,” says Patrick Baransky, sponsorship portfolio manager, Road Running.

In an email addressed to Nick Bester, the National Manager for the Nedbank Running Club, Shvetsov expressed his desire to win at least one more Comrades Marathon before turning his attention to a career as a medical practitioner.

“In the mail I could sense that he won’t be satisfied with anything less than another Comrades win. I also spoke to his manager, Sergey Krasnochekov, who told me that Leonid is as ready as can be for this year’s race,” says Bester.

Nedbank and the Comrades Marathon

Meanwhile the rest of the Nedbank team have been at a Comrades training camp under the watchful eyes of Jon Hamlet and Andrew Kelehe. Athletes that attended the camp include the likes of Hermans Mokgadi, Peter Molapo, White Modinsinyane, Gift Kelehe, Daniel Leburu, Joseph Marman, Lucas Nonyana and Frans Kutu to name a few. Lindsay van Aswegan, Lesley Train, Belinda Waghorn and Adinda Kruger make up part of the Nedbank Elite women's team. Those that entered the Loskop Ultra would of seen some of these Runners in the distance as they used Loskop as a Comrades training run a few weeks ago. Everyone is well prepared for the test ahead and we wish them well on their journey!

Keep working out those running shoes!

This article is courtesy of The Nedbank Runner's Guide Newsletter. To subscribe, click here