COMRADES MARATHON SHOCKED BY SUDDEN PASSING OF FORMER WINNER & CHAIR CHERYL WINN
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) is saddened by the sudden passing on Sunday 5 October of Cheryl Louise Winn, the 1982 women’s winner, a former Chair of the CMA Board, and a devoted servant of not only the Comrades Marathon, but the whole sport of road running in South Africa. Tragically, she passed away while pursuing one of her passions, nature photography, on a family holiday in the Drakensberg.
Cheryl ran the Comrades Marathon six times from 1978 to 1984, never finishing lower than fifth position in the women’s race. Having finished fourth in her first race, she was runner-up twice in 1980 and 1981, then claimed the women’s title in 1982. While still running competitively, Winn became involved in the administrative side of the sport, initially at club and provincial level, and went on to play a leading role, alongside her late husband, Mick Winn, in the national federation, South African Road Running Association (SARRA), which later became Athletics South Africa (ASA).
Cheryl is perhaps best remembered for her many years of service to the Comrades Marathon, leading to many describing her as the matriarch of the event. Once again working alongside her late husband, himself a former Chair of the CMA Board and Comrades Marathon legend, Winn filled several roles for the CMA, including as a Board Member. In 2017, she became the only former winner of the race to be elected Chair of the CMA Board, and when she stood down as Chair in 2021, she continued to serve the race as part of the Finance, Marketing & Membership, and Heritage & Traditions Committees, as well as the CMA Elders Committee.
CMA Chairperson Mqondisi Ngcobo says, “Cheryl’s passing is a great loss not only to the CMA, but to the whole athletics family. She dedicated her life from 1978 to the service of the sport of athletics, and the Comrades Marathon in particular. Cheryl’s legacy in this 104-year-old ultra marathon is unparalleled, and her passing is a devastating loss to the CMA family. She remains the Comrades Marathon’s matriarch.”
“On behalf of the CMA Board, staff, race organising committee, our elders, sponsors, partners and participants, we pass our deepest condolences to the Winn family, and wish you strength as you deal with this tragic loss. May her beautiful soul rest in peace.”
More will follow from the CMA in coming days.
