Now heading into its 3rd year, the race also holds elite label status from World Athletics, the governing body of athletics around the world and was the first ultra-marathon in the world to receive this. In its first year, both the men’s and women’s world records over 50km were broken, and this year’s event saw the men’s world record be obliterated by South Africa’s Stephen Mokoka. 

“Next year’s race will once again be an elite only by invitation event and will be limited to 300 runners in total,” said Bester. “We have already had some interest from around the world and also confirmed some exciting names already who will be coming to the Nelson Mandela Bay next year in search of running a new world record.”

This year, the relative unknown Tete Dijana running in the colors of Nedbank running club ran the race of his life to finish 2nd with 2019 Comrades Marathon winner and training partner Edward Mothibi 3rd. It was this very event that announced Dijana on the scene, and a few months later became a household name when he took victory at Comrades with Mothibi finishing 2nd. Dijana will once again be on the start line in Gqeberha next year. 

“The Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km is a very special race to me because this is the one that made me believe that my dreams I have as an athlete can come true,” recalls Dijana. “Next year my two main races will be this one and then Comrades and we are already in the training camp now to prepare.” 

Whilst many will have a break over the December festive season and relax, it will be the opposite for Dijana and his Nedbank teammates who are hungry for success. “We will be in camp over Christmas and probably doing a long run on that day,” laughed Dijana. “It is not time to relax because we are serious with what we want to achieve.”

Dijana will also be joined by Mothibi on the start line. Making the trek from Ethiopia and into their first go at an ultra-marathon, Nedbank running club Ethiopia’s Daba Ifa Debele Gadisa and Bekele Gutama will also be on the start line. The duo was victorious at the recent tough Soweto Marathon finishing 1 and 2 and will come to Gqeberha with some great advice from Nedbank running club teammate Ketema Bekele Negasa who broke the 50km world record at the first Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km back in 2021. It was also Negasa’s debut at an ultra. 

The record-breaking attempt will be fueled by the pacing of 2:09 marathoner, Melikhaya Frans and South African Cross-country runner up Mathews Leeto

In the women’s race, Nedbank running club’s Dominika Stelmach from Poland and Ethiopia’s Amelework Fikadu Bosho who narrowly missed out on the 50km world record when winning this year’s event will return. Stelmach finished 2nd at this year’s Comrades Marathon and has also podiumed in Gqeberha. 

2022 Swedish Marathon Champion, Hanna Lindholm, who boasts a best marathon time of 2h28 minutes and finished 24th at this year’s World Marathon championships in a time of 2h32 makes her way to South Africa for the first time in her career and will be the fastest marathon runner on the start line as the entries currently stand. 

“I have run all over the world, but this will be my first time in South Africa, and I am looking forward to it,” says Lindholm. The 50km distance marks Lindholm’s first attempt at an ultra-marathon. “I am both excited and a little bit nervous about the extra 8km I will have to race but my preparation has been going well and I will be going for the world record on race day provided the weather conditions are good.”

The women’s world record attempt will be paced by South African top marathon athlete Stella Marias as well as Commonwealth medalist Helalia Johannes