Nearly 5k tackle 38th Forest Marathon

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KNYSNA NEWS - This year's Knysna Forest Marathon, the 38th running of the iconic event, saw hundreds more runners taking on and completing the route than last year.

With the improved numbers also came an improved winning time, as Johardt van Heerden triumphed with a time roughly 15 minutes quickly than last year's triumph.

More than 4 800 runners completed the marathon, across both distances. Last year, runners were blessed with some good weather, with not a cloud in the sky and a slightly warm early morning berg wind keeping conditions temperate.

But, this year, some would say conditions were ideal and made for some great running weather.

PHOTO GALLERY: Knysna Forest Marathon draws nearly 5 000 runners

The victor in the full marathon, Johardt van Heerden, musters a smile at the end of his race.

The early morning start treated participants to a slightly nippy early few stages, with some overnight rain making conditions in the forest only slightly slippery underfoot. This didn't deter runners in either of the distances though, and they made sure to blitz through the course to clock very respectable times all around.

In the half-marathon (21,1km) event, the same three stooges who have year-in and year-out made the race their own dominated from start to finish once again.

Selwyn Matthews stands proud at the finish line having emerged as half-marathon winner.

Selwyn Matthews was however the one who took home first prize this year, crossing the finish line in a time of 01:06:47, only one second ahead of his training partner and event defending champion Lloyd Bosman. In third place was Francois Maquassa, who finished in 01:07:28.

These gentlemen were also 2022's top three, albeit in a different order.

When it comes to the ladies of the half-marathon, Mia Steytler clocked a very impressive time, finishing in 01:21:02. This is no less than nine minutes faster than 2022's ladies half-marathon winning time. The second lady over the line was Alexandra Quenet (01:23:54), followed by third-placed Stella Marais (01:24:36). Quenet and Marais' times were also faster than the 2022 winning ladies time.

Defending champion Lloyd Bosman (left) congratulates Selwyn Matthews on his half-marathon triumph.

Over at the full marathon, men's and overall leader Johardt van Heerden, an experienced SA trail runner, made his Knysna Forest Marathon debut this year.

This lack of local experience did not show, and he stormed home in a rapid time of 02:33:39. This is 14 minutes and 39 seconds faster than the winning time posted last year.

Runner-up Ryan Eichstadt's time was a quarter of an hour behind, at 02:48:56. Third-placed Philasande Buthelezi finished his 42,2km in 02:50:43.

The first lady home in the full marathon was Mila Geldenhuys who, with a time of 03:13:11, ensured she finished inside the overall top 10.

Sume van Heerden was next in line for the ladies, completing her run in 03:16:10. Sarah-Jane Silber rounded out the ladies podium in a time of 03:20:52.

The top three in the half-marathon. From left: Lloyd Bosman (second), Selwyn Matthews (first) and Francois Maquass (third).