Tete Dijana eyes a third successive Comrades Marathon title

The star athlete, affiliated with the Nedbank Running Club, has commenced his preparations for the upcoming race scheduled for Sunday, 9 June.

Anticipating the 87km Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, the 36-year-old athlete is already envisioning crossing the finish line as the victor.

Achieving consecutive victories in the Ultimate Human Race is a remarkable accomplishment, but clinching a third consecutive title would undoubtedly propel him to legendary status.

With determination and a promise to his fans, Dijana is eager to pursue this ambitious goal.

In an interview with SABC Sport, Dijana revealed that he, along with his coach Dave Adams and training companions, including the accomplished Comrades 2019 champion Edward Mothibi, as well as two additional recruits from Kwa-Zulu Natal and Limpopo, has commenced preparations in the North West.  

“The preparations are underway, and I find myself injury-free and in top-notch condition.  Although I’ve been extensively traveling on holiday with family recently, allowing for some quality time together, it’s time to shift gears and channel my focus toward the ultimate dream of securing a third Comrades Marathon accolade. As of now, my optimism remains high in achieving this dream – it’s all a matter of mindset,” said Dijana in an interview with the national broadcaster.

Last year at the Comrades, Dijana set a new record with a remarkable time of 5 hours, 13 minutes, and 58 seconds.

Surpassing David Getebe’s 2019 record of 5:18:19, Dijana not only secured the victory but also claimed a combined prize of R1,5 million.

Reflecting on his outstanding accomplishment in 2023, he hailed it as the best year of his life.

Among his feats was breaking the Nedbank 50km Runifield Breaking Barriers ultra-marathon race in Gqeberha, completing it in an astonishing 2 hours, 39 minutes, and four seconds, outpacing Stephen Mokoka’s 2022 time of 2:40:00.

Despite this success, Dijana revealed to the national broadcaster that he won’t be defending his 50km title, as he has already accepted an invitation to participate in an ultra-marathon in Botswana on the same date.

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“I plan to participate in several 10km and 21km races to enhance my endurance. Opting to challenge my abilities against fellow runners in Botswana, my ultimate aspiration is to secure the prestigious Comrades Marathon title consecutively, “he affirmed.