Dijana vs Wiersma: The battle for Comrades Marathon glory

DURBAN - THERE was a moment during the elite athletes’ pre race media conference of the Comrades Marathon at a beachfront hotel here on Thursday when Pie Wiersma and Tete Dijana exchanged glances and a smile flickered across both men’s faces.

The smiles were fleeting though, coming as they did immediately after Dijana had declared himself not being under any pressure but loudly saying’ they have pressure’. He looked at Wiersma when he said that and the Dutchman clearly knew his adversary was playing mind games.

For a significant part of the press conference, the two Nedbank Running Club athletes had not really looked at each other – although Dijana intermittently smiled when Wiersma spoke about his readiness and ‘being in the best shape’ of his life.

Given the tough nature and the unpredictability of The Ultimate Human Race, it would be folly to think Sunday’s 98th running of the world famous ultra marathon between the KwaZulu-Natal cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban would be a two-horse race. Far from it, for there are a few athletes capable of pulling off a victory.

But there can be no denying that Dijana and Wiersma are going to be the main protagonists given what happened two years ago in the last Down Run – from Pietermaritzburg to Durban when Wiersma introduced himself to Comrades with a run so compellingly good he scared the living daylights out of holder and defending champion Dijnana.

Wiersma finished runner-up by less than five seconds in one of the closest finishes in the race’s history as Dijana broke the Down Run best time previously held by David Gatebe. Wiersma also ran under that 5:18:19 mark and was gutted to not have won. He made amends last year, albeit in the Up Run when he reigned supreme on an afternoon when Dijana had dizzy spells less and suffered wobbly legs to finish a distant 14th place.

It appears the gloves are off this year, with Dijana eager to chalk up a rare hat-trick of Down Run victories while Wiersma will be out to do a back-to-back.

The Dutchman was in high spirits yesterday as he reflected on how his training has gone out in Kenya which he has made his camp from last year despite having suffered an infection from drinking contaminated water.

Previously a student and juggling running with his studies, Wiersma has since gone full time professional and says this has seen to a remarkable improvement in his running.

He looks leaner and talks a good game:  “To me every year I am out there looking to do better and this year, training has been good. Last year I got an opportunity to become a professional runner and this has made a big difference. I feel that I am better, but there are never any guarantees, I can’t say I will win.”

But he definitely wants to, so much so that in addition to training like a madman he has been spending time watching videos of previous races.

“In a way I am a student (of the race),”  he admitted. “Two years ago when I first came here I did not know much about Comrades but last year and this year I did some  homework and watched the past races. It is necessary to improve year to year and be the best I can be for every race. I trained to be at the best level I can be and this time my entire year has been very good.”

Warnings to Dijana and the rest of the field don’t come as ominous as that, do they?

But the man from Mafikeng was unfazed by it all, Dijana playfully moving the microphone away from him to another Nedbank runner in Onalenna Khonkhobe, who typically took the bait and declared himself ready to smash the field.

“Sunday, I start with the gun. No matter (there is a) pacemaker or not, I am going up front. I am here to learn lots of things but in three years or four years time I will win Comrades back-to-back,” he said to loud applause.

Dijana was not speaking in such bold terms but he flashed a knowing smile as he shared what his plans are for Sunday’s race.

“I am so excited to come and fix what happened last year,” he said in reference to the bad run he had in the Up Run. “I walked and watched the videos (of the race) at home and I heard one of the coaches telling his athletes ‘Tete is walking’. But this year, I am not here to walk. And no, I don't have pressure, they have.”

He flashed that toothpaste advert smile of his as he looked towards his far left where Wiersma sat.

The battle lines have been drawn. Who will reign supreme? Dijana or Wiersma? Or will the winner come out of left field in the men’s race?