The 2013 Midmar Mile is heading for a record field. Photo: Gameplan Media
Pietermaritzburg – The aQuellé Midmar Mile is on course for a record field in its 40th year.
“We’ve got a record entry now. We’re not worried about entries anymore, we’re worried we have too many entries,” laughed event organiser Wayne Riddin.
Late entries will still be taken at registration, which takes place at the Cascades Lifestyle Centre in Pietermaritzburg from February 6 to 8. Thereafter entries will be taken at the dam, at an extra cost.
The list of entries received so far suggests that the battle for the men’s title could be one for the ages.
“In the men’s race you’ve got Troyden (Prinsloo) and Chad (Ho), who you are normally expecting to race one another,” Riddin explained. “They were first and second in 2012.
“Then you’ve got Sébastien Rouault, who is coming out from France. He used to train with Troyden when they were at Georgia University.
“Then you’ve got Myles Brown, who is probably considered to be the top South African challenger, and possibly also Mark Randall.”
The women’s race is headlined by seven-time Midmar Mile champion Keri-Anne Payne, who is also a two-time world champion over 10km.
There will be another world record attempt at this year’s Midmar Mile.
“We’ve already unofficially broken our own Guinness World Record for the world’s largest open water swimming event,” said Riddin, “but with this being the 40th anniversary we’re expecting a larger entry than normal.
“I think it would be nice if we could go over the 14 000 finishers’ mark, but even better if we hit 15 000 for the first time.”
