Ultra legend Claassen turns 90

Posted February 28th, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Marathons

George Claassen, one of South Africa’s most respected ultrarunners of all time and a passionate follower of athletics for decades, turned 90 this week. Oom (Afrikaans for uncle) George, as he is affectionately known to many, won the Comrades Marathon in 1961 at the age of 44, then the second-oldest after Wally Hayward to take the title (44 years, 3 months and 5 days to be exact).

Since the death of Hayward last year, Claassen is now the oldest surviving Comrades winner.

When this reporter phoned him to congratulate him on the special occasion, he lamented the decline in the standards of the sport he loves.

“It is a tragedy, the sport is declining everywhere, especially in the schools. But fortunately people like you and me have our wonderful memories of what it was like.”

Asked about his health, Claassen said:

“My head is still right and I still live in my own house. My children are very good to me.”

George Claassen ran the Comrades for the first time in 1960, when his 6:34:07 was the then best time for a novice in the “up” run. He finished third behind Jackie Mekler and Gerald Walsh (Mekler became the first to go under 6 hours with his 5:56:32.)

The next year Claassen, a school principal in Middelburg, followed leader Keith Pearce in the company of Frikkie Steyn and Trevor Allen until Pearce collapsed from exhaustion and cramp on the outskirts of Durban. Claassen and Steyn ran together past 45th Cutting, having shaken off Allen, but at Westridge Park Claassen drew away and the younger Steyn could not close the gap again.

Claassen’s time of 6:07:07 was the fourth-fastest ever for the “down” run. He completed the race eight more times, achieving ten medals in total and permanent number: 994. His last Comrades was in 1977 at the age of sixty, when he finished in 10:14:00.

The George Claassen Half-Marathon in Pretoria is named for him; he was Chairman of Pretoria Marathon Club from 1974 to 1985.

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