# South African ultra-long distances running performances (100km and further)

South Africans have been participated in various running events 100 kilometres and longer. Some is on road, track or trail. The statistics below show the best performances irrespective of the surface.

## 100 km

The current world scenario is as follows;
Men World record: Ritchie, D. 6:10:20, Date: 28 October 1978, London United Kingdom.
Women World record: Abe, T. 6:33:11, Date: 25 June 2000, Ybetsu- Saroma- Tokara, Japan.
The top 3 South African performances were:
100 kilometres :
| Position | Men | Time | Date obtained | Place obtained | Women | Time | Date obtained | Place obtained |
| 1 | Mthembu, B. | 6:24:05 | 27 November 2016 | Los Alcázares, Spain | Joubert, H. | 7:31:47 | 16 September 1995 | Winschoten, The Netherlands |
| 2 | Fordyce, B. | 6:25:07 | 4 February 1989 | Stellenbosch, South Africa | du Plessis, R | 7:41:52 | 13 September 1997 | Winschoten, The Netherlands |
| 3 | Meiklejohn, S. | 6:26:58 | 26 June 1994 | Lake Saroma, Japan | van Aswegen, L. | 7:42:05 | 10 September 2011 | Winschoten, The Netherlands |

## 100 miles

The current world scenario is as follows;
Men World record: Bitter, Z 11:19:18, Date: 25 August 2019, Milwaukee, USA
Women World record : Herron, C. 12:42:40, Date: 11 November 2017, Vienna IL USA
The top 3 South African performances were:
100 miles :
| Position | Men | Time | Date obtained | Place obtained | Women | Time | Date obtained | Place obtained |
| 1 | Kay, D. | 11:56:56 | 6 October 1972 | Durban, South Africa | Sumner, Y. | 16:06:56 | 14 October 1982 | Durban, South Africa |
| 2 | Hayward, W. | 12:20:28 | 24 October 1953 | Bath, England, United Kingdom | Torr, C | 16:20:01 | 11 October 1986 | Durban, South Africa |
| 3 | Deeny, EG | 12:27:00 | September 1977 | Johannesburg, South Africa | van der Merwe, M | 16:28:10 | 7 September 1991 | Roodepoort, South Africa |

## 24 Hour running

The current world scenario is as follows;
Men World record : Kouros, Y. 303.50 km, Date: 5 October 1997, Adelaide Australia
Women World record : Herron, C 260.6 km Date: 9 December 2018, Phoenix, USA
The top South African performances were:
24 Hours :
| Position | Men | Distance | Date obtained | Place obtained | Women | Distance | Date obtained | Place obtained |
| 1 | van der Merwe, J. | 258.06 km | 7 December 2014 | Tapei, Taiwan | Edwards, T | 197.0 km | 25 September 2021 | Irene, South Africa |
| 2 | Hayward, W. | 256.4 km | 21 November 1953 | Motspur Park, London, United Kingdom | Moller, H | 190.4 km | 19 September 2014 | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| 3 | de Beer, N | 194.4 km | 19 September 2014 | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Sumner, Y | 188.65 km | 11 October 1986 | Durban, South Africa |
| 4 | | | | | Hutchinson, M. | 171.3 km | 28 August 1971 | Johannesburg, South Africa |

## 48 Hour running

The current world scenario is as follows;
Men World record : Kouros, Y. 473.49 km, Date: 5 May 1996, Surgeres France
Women World record : Inagaki, S. 397.10 Date: 23 May 2010, Surgeres, France
The top South Africans are:
48 Hours :
| Position | Men | Distance | Date obtained | Place obtained | Women | Distance | Date obtained | Place obtained |
| 1 | van der Merwe, J. | 333.18 km | May 2013 | Hungary | Muller, M. | 272.768 km | 13 August 2023 | Gloucester, United Kingdom |
| 2 | | | | | Muller, M. | 267.50 km | 30 December 2022 | Germiston, South Africa |
| 3 | | | | | Edwards, T | 261.0 km | 26 September 2021 | Irene, South Africa |

## 6 Days running

The current world scenario is as follows;
Men World record : Kouros, Y. 1036.8 km, Date: 26 November 2005
Women World record : Barwick, S. 883.63 km Date: 24 November 1990, Campbelltown, Australia
The top South Africans are:
6 Days :
| Position | Men | Distance | Date obtained | Place obtained | Women | Distance | Date obtained | Place obtained |
| 1 | Wright, E. | 815.00 km | 7 April 2001 | Randburg, South Africa | Solomon, I. | 631.00 km | 2 April 2006 | Randburg, South Africa |
| 2 | van der Merwe, J. | 815.00 km | 25 September 2015 | Pietermartizburg, South Africa | | | | |

## 24 hour mile relay

The rules are as follows:
A team consist out of ten runners. Each runner runs a mile, before the second person takes over. Runners needs to run in sequence and if a runner cannot run, that runners falls out and the team gets reduced. The minimum runners left must be two.
The current world scenario is as follows;
Men world record: Team- Puma Tyneside Running Club of Great Britain; Date- 11 September 1994; Location- Jarrow; Distance 302 miles 375 yards.
Women world record: Team- LG Kappelberg of Germany; Date- 1982; Location- Mörlenbach; Distance 235 miles 816 yards.
The top South African are:
24 hour mile relay :
| Men Team | Women Team |
| University of Cape Town | University of Cape Town |
| Team members ||
| Bailey, R. | Anderson, F. |
| Bateman, E. | Bond, C. |
| Britz, G. | Brodie, A. |
| Day, R. | Coleman, M. |
| Liefeldt, G. | Haal, H. |
| Lievers, S. | Horne, B. |
| Nott, M. | le Jeune, R. |
| Robinson, R. | McLachlan, M. |
| Roome, J. | Moores, T. |
| Stewart, T. | Smith, M. |
| Date ||
| 22 August 1981 | 22 August 1981 |
| Location ||
| Cape Town | Cape Town |
| Distance ||
| 293 miles 1735 yards | 207 miles 1517 yards |