Rudolph Mitchell oozes confidence as he prepares for historic race

Aug 26, 2009 Sports

He has walked to all parts of the country, in friendly and unfriendly terrain, through the blazing sun and pouring rain, in his bid to reach the coveted century mark.

Rudolph Mitchell (2nd right front row)stands in the company of his competition and organizer of events of the Cavalier Sports and Tour Club (CS&TC), David Kirton after his 98th victory.

Now Rudolph Mitchell, arguably the best, and at 48 years old, definitely the oldest, race walker, oozes confidence as he prepares to cross the final hurdle en route to his 100th straight victory.

The venue for this historic event is Soesdyke/Coverden and the prolific athlete will be required to out-walk his competitors over a distance of 10 laps around the Soesdyke community in a race dubbed ‘Walk for Life.’

Mitchell has made his previous outings appear as literally a walk in the park (excuse the pun). Over the months of hectic activity, his staunchest rivals have been Jonathon Fagundes, Debidyal Harold, Franklyn Archer and more recently, Richard Lewis and Michael Charles. Despite their many pre-race boasts Mitchell has defeated them all.

He has recently chalked up his 99th straight victory, a two mile trek from the Two Brothers Gas Station, Eccles EBD, to Mocha Arcadia’s road head, with relative ease despite the many boasts of his adversaries to stoop him in his tracks.

Can he complete the journey with a victory? This question would only be answered this weekend when Mitchell once again straps on his boots to contest the most important and defining race of his career.

Participants are asked to assemble at the Soesdyke Methodist Church at 06:00hrs for the start of the event.