LAST year’s Washie 100 women’s winner Susan Hurter was attacked near the 160 kilometre road race’s halfway mark on Saturday night – but bravely pushed on to finish in eleventh position, Peter Martin reports.
At about 2am on Saturday, nine hours into the race - which starts in Port Alfred - and nearing the halfway stage, Hurter of AS Eagles Pretoria was suddenly accosted by an unknown man and dragged off the road by her hair.
The attacker demanded that Hurter switch off the light all the runners are forced to wear at night-time to protect them from on-coming traffic, but she refused and fought back, screaming loudly.
Alec Wainwright, a lawyer from Johannesburg, who was acting as a second for his son, Stuart, who at the time was running about 300 metres behind Hurter, heard her screams and drove as fast as he could towards the scene.
Upon his and Stuart’s approach, the unknown attacker released Hurter and disappeared into the thick bushes along side the road.
The athlete was badly traumatised by the attack and her seconds suggested that she retire from the race. However, the brave runner, after taking about 50 minutes to recover from her ordeal, decided to push on and she finished the race in 11th position overall in 21 hours, 52 mins and 11 seconds.
