South Africa’s very own Hendrick Ramaala secured another top 10 finish after competing at one of the fastest ever Berlin Marathons ever on Sunday 25 September. This comes despite the fact that he has not competed at any major races for a year.
The 39 year-old distance runner was invited to compete at the 38th Berlin Marathon along with big names like the former Ethiopian World Record holder Haile Gebrselassie. Despite his absence from the marathon world, Ramaala secured a 10th place finish in 2:16.00, marginally slower than his last marathon (2:14:45 – San Diego, 6 June). Gebrselassie did not finish the race as he struggled to keep up with the fast pace of the front runners.
Patrick Makau won the Berlin Marathon for two consecutive years. In 2010 Makau ended Gebrselassies four year winning streak when he took the honours. He did the same this year in a new world record time. The defending champion smashed the old World Record of 2:03.59 set by Gebrselassie in 2008 when he crossed the line in 2:03:38.
Ramaala has once again proved that he’s still got what it takes to succeed in marathons. Since 2000 he has competed in 26 major marathons with 19 of these resulting in top 10 finishes.
Hendrick Ramaala – Top 10 Finishes since 2000
Date | Race | Position | Time |
2000 | |||
16 April | London | 5 | 2:09:43 |
2001 | |||
22 April | London | 9 | 2:12:02 |
4 November | New York | 5 | 2:11:18 |
2002 | |||
7 April | Paris | 6 | 2:10:06 |
2003 | |||
13 April | London | 8 | 2:08:58 |
30 Augustus | Saint-Denis | 9 | 2:10:37 |
12 October | Chicago | 8 | 2:10:55 |
2004 | |||
15 February | Mumbai | 1 | 2:15:47 |
7 November | New York | 1 | 2:09:28 |
2005 | |||
17 April | London | 3 | 2:08:32 |
6 November | New York | 2 | 2:09:31 |
2006 | |||
23 April | London | 3 | 2:06:55 |
5 November | New York | 9 | 2:13:04 |
2007 | |||
22 April | London | 5 | 2:07:56 |
4 November | New York | 3 | 2:11:25 |
2008 | |||
13 April | London | 10 | 2:11:44 |
2009 | |||
26 April | London | 5 | 2:07:44 |
1 November | New York | 6 | 2:12:30 |
2010 | |||
6 June | San Diego | 7 | 2:14:45 |
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