The 99th Comrades Marathon produced many remarkable stories on the road from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, 14 June 2026.
Few captured the imagination quite like the journeys of 84-year-old Johannes Mosehla and 20-year-old Bailey O’Leary, the oldest and youngest official finishers of the 85.777km Up Run.
Mosehla crossed the finish line in 11:12:26, breaking his own record as the oldest finisher in the history of the Ultimate Human Race.
Thousands of younger runners faded into the rear-view mirror as the veteran from Polokwane once again proved that age is merely a mile marker, not a finish line.
“I am deeply grateful and humbled,” said Mosehla. “To be the oldest finisher at Comrades is a privilege. Running has been part of my life for decades and every year this race reminds me that determination does not grow old. If you keep moving forward, the road will always teach you something.”
The Polokwane Running Club member, who began running in 1963, continues to train in the mountains near his home, dancing with the hills as though gravity had forgotten his birth certificate.
“At my age, every Comrades finish is a celebration,” he added. “I hope my journey shows people that it is never too late to chase a goal. The body needs care, the mind needs discipline and the heart needs passion.”
At the opposite end of the age spectrum, O’Leary flew across the finish line in 10:42:51 to become the youngest female finisher. The United Kingdom resident returned to her family roots in Durban to share a dream with her father, Jon O’Leary.
“I grew up hearing stories about Comrades and supporting my dad,” said Bailey. “He inspired my love for the race. Running my first Comrades alongside him was everything I hoped it would be. The amazing crowds carried us and crossing the finish line is a memory I will treasure forever.”
Jon described the experience as one of the proudest moments of his life.
“As a parent, you spend years hoping to share the things you love with your children,” he said. “To run Comrades with Bailey on her debut was incredibly special. Watching her stay strong, smile through the challenges and earn her medal made every kilometre worthwhile.”
Together, Mosehla and O’Leary turned the route into a living timeline. One carried more than six decades of running wisdom. The other arrived with youthful ambition blazing brightly. Their stories met on the same ribbon of road, proving that Comrades remains a race where generations gather, dreams take flight and ordinary runners create extraordinary memories.
Both have already set their sights on the centenary edition in 2027, where the youngest finisher of 2026 will chase a back-to-back medal and the oldest will once again remind the running world that endurance has no expiry date.
