Frith van der Merwe (born 26 May 1964) is a South African long-distance athlete.
Running career
She competed several times in the
South African ultramarathon, the
Comrades Marathon
The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direc ...
, in the late 1980s and early 1990s with success, setting female records for both up and down runs. Her 1989 record time of 5:54:43 in the down run was broken by
Gerda Steyn
Gerda Steyn (born 3 March 1990) is a South African marathon and ultramarathon athlete. She set the Comrades Marathon down-run record in 2023 with a mark of 5:44:54, becoming the fourth woman under 6 hours for that race.
On 11 April 2021, she be ...
in 2023. Her 1989 record time of 3:30:36 in the 56 km
Two Oceans Marathon
The Two Oceans Marathon is a 56 km / 35-mile ultramarathon and 21 km half-marathon held annually in Cape Town, South Africa on the Saturday of the Easter weekend.
Known globally as "the world's most beautiful marathon",Hamlett, Alison ...
was broken by
Gerda Steyn
Gerda Steyn (born 3 March 1990) is a South African marathon and ultramarathon athlete. She set the Comrades Marathon down-run record in 2023 with a mark of 5:44:54, becoming the fourth woman under 6 hours for that race.
On 11 April 2021, she be ...
in 2022. Her best times in shorter distances were:
8 km 26:42
10 km 33:18 Germany, 1993
15 km 49:54 Belville, 1989
21.1 km 71:11 Voet of Africa, 1990
42.2 km 2:27 SA Champs, 1990
50 km 3:08 City to City, 1989
Personal life
She married Michael Ivan Agliotti (b. 2 January 1957, d 25 May 1997) on 22 April 1995. She started studying at
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (), is a multi-campus South African public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University or Wits ( or ). The university ...
. She is a teacher. She is currently teaching in
Benoni, Gauteng
Benoni is a town in Ekurhuleni municipality, Gauteng, South Africa.
Benoni was also the setting for the MTV-inspired movie ''Crazy Monkey: Straight Outta Benoni'', released internationally in 2005.
People from Benoni
*Urzila Carlson, New Zeal ...
Awards
In 2012 she was honoured as Benoni Northerns Sports Club's best ever sportsperson.
In 2013 she was inducted into the ''Gsport Hall of Fame''.
Achievements
*
All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
References
External links
*
South African ultramarathon runners
1964 births
Living people
Female ultramarathon runners
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