Winner of 2018 Comrades Marathon Ann Ashworth has been announced as the new Race and Operations Manager at the Comrades Marathon Association.
CMA Chairperson, Mqondisi Ngcobo confirmed this appointment with delight: “We would like to welcome Ann Ashworth as the new Race & Operations Manager at the Comrades Marathon Association. Ashworth brings with her a wealth of experience and skills; and we look forward to leveraging her unique expertise towards achieving the Comrades Marathon’s strategic goals.
“Our vision as the CMA, coupled with her presentation on her vision for the future of The Ultimate Human Race, will no doubt take this iconic event to greater heights.”
Ashworth is excited by her new position and the prospect of managing one of the world’s most iconic sporting brands.
“I have had the pleasure of dealing with the Comrades team in the past and anticipate that together we will achieve great things as we launch the 2024 edition of the race next week.”
Ashworth has done a lot for road-running in South Africa, not only as an athlete herself but has established a running club called Born2Run that also saw her manage the club’s elite ladies’ team. In 2014 her club won the ladies team prize at Comrades and were presented with the Ladies Shield.
Her influence wherever she is, is always seen an felt, when she left Born2Run, she started a new ladies-only elite and sub-elite development team sponsored by Massmart Holdings. The group, known as Team Massmart, under her guidance improved greatly, achieving multiple podium finishes and accolades, including winning the Comrades Ladies Shield in 2019.
Clearly a superwoman of note; the Howick native, holds a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, is an admitted advocate, a running coach and now a retired elite ultra-distance athlete.
“Comrades has always been very close to my heart as an athlete and as a coach, but to have the opportunity to contribute towards the future growth and development of the race is truly extraordinary. It is an honour to be able to give back to the sport in this way.”
Ashworth also boasts three Two Oceans gold medals. She has also won the Loskop Ultra marathon on several occasions, as well the Karkloof 50-miler, the Ultra-Trail Drakensberg 100km (new record) and placed 4th (1st South African) in the 2021 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100km.
Main Photo Caption: Winner of 2018 Comrades Marathon Ann Ashworth has been announced as the new Race and Operations Manager at the CMA, bringing a wealth of experience as a running coach and now as a retired elite ultra-distance athlete. Ashworth is pictured with CMA Vice Chairperson, Les Burnard (left) and CMA Chairperson, Mqondisi Ngcobo (right). Photo: Supplied
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