| Intro | South African distance runner |
| Is |
Marathon runner Runner Athlete Ultramarathon runner |
| From | South Africa |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | female |
| Birth |
26 May 1964 |
| Age | 56 years |
Frith van der Merwe (born 26 May 1964) is a South African long-distance athlete.
She competed in the South African ultramarathon, the Comrades Marathon, in the late 1980s and early 1990s with astonishing success, setting records for both up and down runs. Her 1989 record time of 5:54:43 in the down run still stands in 2016. Her 1989 record time of 3:30:36 in the 56 km Two Oceans Marathon also still stands.
She is currently (2014) teaching at Benoni High School in Benoni, South Africa.
After returning to Benoni from Grahamstown Frith rejoined Benoni Northerns Athletics Club and in 2012 during the club’s 40th Anniversary celebration, she was honoured as Benoni Northerns Sports Club’s best ever sportsperson.
Achievements
- All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing South Africa | ||||
| 1993 | World Championships | Stuttgart, Germany | 7th | 2:35:56 |