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Claude Moshiywa stormed clear in the last third of the Comrades Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, breaking the foreign stranglehold as he became the first South African to win the "up" run in 21 years.
Moshiywa, who was third in 2011 and ninth last year, took the lead from countryman Johannes Kekana after four hours on the road,and charged ahead in warm conditions to secure a historic victory.
The last South African to win the men's "up" run was Jetman Msutu in 1992.
Zimbabwean Moses Njodzi, who won the Two Oceans Marathon in 2006, emerged as the first real contender, opening a one-and-a-half minute lead at the halfway mark, as he charged through Drummond in two hours, 40 minutes.
Russian twins Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva, who have won the race 9 times between them, held a comfortable lead at the halfway stage of the women's race.
South African novice Charne Bosman was in third place, nine minutes further back
