Latest news with #Wiersma
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kalamazoo County secures $3.4M for ‘urgent' dam replacement
VICKSBURG, Mich. (WOOD) — Kalamazoo County says it has secured more than $3 million in funding to replace a 175-year-old dam. Sunset Lake Dam in Vicksburg was originally built in 1850. Since then, officials say the dam has 'deteriorated significantly,' with its concrete structures in poor condition and its main spillway unable to handle large amounts of rain, and it could pose a risk to those who live nearby. 'The current dam requires manual removal of wooden stoplogs to control lake levels before heavy rain, which is labor-intensive and poses safety risks for our staff,' said Drain Commissioner Jason Wiersma in a statement. 'Even with all stoplogs removed, the dam lacks the capacity to handle a 200-year flood, as mandated by state regulations. The combination of its outdated design and poor condition makes this replacement project urgent.' EGLE announces grants for 5 West Michigan dam projects To support the project, the Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner's Office has secured $3.4 million in funding over the past few years: $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, which was allocated through the county, and an additional from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. The county intends to demolish the old spillway and build a new, modern spillway, updated channels and better safety features — a 'state-of-the-art system that prioritizes safety and reliability,' according to Wiersma. The safety features will help keep swimmers and boaters away from the spillway and protect pedestrians and cars from any hazards. According to officials, the project will cut the risk of dam failure and improve water level management. Currently, the project is in the design and permitting phase. The county is working with Spicer Group, which specializes in dam engineering, to oversee inspections and construction. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
IOL News
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Dijana and Steyn take Comrades glory
Tete Dijana won his third Comrades Marathon title in the down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers Down run king Tete Dijana came out victorious with Piet Wiersma hot on his heels during the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Monday. On the women's front, Gerda Steyn made it her fourth Comrades Marathon win. Dijana said he felt like a real winner, and he was indeed, a 'down-run real champion'. 'I was so excited. Very, very excited and also emotional because I remember what happened last year… I was in the best shape, but the devil came, so I was happy that at least the devil didn't attack me this year,' Dijana said. 'I've been getting pressure from social media saying, 'don't let it go again', they used the word again. So I had to fix everything.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Dijana said he came prepared. His game plan in the morning was eyeing everyone, checking who was leading, but not underestimating his mates. On Wiersma closing in on him, Dijana said: 'In the last 10 kilometres, I saw he was closing in. Then I accelerated a little bit, and then the gap opened.' Wiersma, the 2024 champion, said he felt like he was in the best shape of his life and even better than last year. 'I was having a lot of discomfort over those last kilometres. Sometimes I was closing and sometimes Tete was gaining some distance,' Wiersma said. 'He's the absolute down run king, right now. I'm going to try next year to be the upper king again.' Third-place Nikolai Volkov said the race went according to his plan. 'The first part of the race was based only on my feelings,' Volkov said. 'At one point in time, I was outraced by a big group of 15 people. I decided that I didn't want to go with them. I was still trying to cooperate with my feelings. In the last 20km, I caught up to 12 guys from this group.' Gerda Steyn clinched her fourth Comrades Marathon title on Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/ Independent Newspapers Steyn said she set out at not too blistering a pace, a little bit more of a conservative approach. "I really wanted to run the race correctly. It worked out well. It got comfortable for most of the way,' Steyn said. 'There was a little bit of a moment where I realised that Alexandra (Morozova) was closing the gap on me quite significantly in the really last stages of the race, which really made me stay on my toes and make sure that I am 100% focused and getting the most out of myself.' The champion said she had a time in mind, but not a strict one. She planned on getting in under 5 hours and 55 minutes. She added that it was an honour to give Hollywood Athletics Club a winner this year. Second place, Morozova said this is her best Comrades result and her best pace. 'Until the 30th kilometre, I kept the pace with Gerda… but after the 30th kilometre, it became clear that it was just a warm-up for Gerda… I decided to let Gerda run her race and to play my game,' Morozova said. 'I'm really glad I held my second place because at one point in time, I thought that the race for me was almost over. 'At one point in the race, I saw how Dominika (Stelmach) started to close the gap, and I was really afraid that she'll catch me.' Shelmisth Muriuki claimed third place on her first Comrades Marathon. 'I would like to say that it is through God's grace because I almost gave up at 50km… because my legs were paining, I had blisters… it is just God,' Muriuki said. 'The race was good. It was amazing.' Cape Times
Daily Maverick
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Analysis: The Comrades Marathon ‘day of drama' starring Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn as victors
The Comrades Marathon is always a riveting show. On Sunday, Gerda Steyn and Tete Dijana starred — supported by cast members from all walks of life. The beauty of the Comrades Marathon is that it doesn't matter whether you are an elite athlete or a novice runner — crossing that finish line after hours of running evokes the same emotions: elation and relief. After hours of testing one's body, mind and spirit, reaching the finish is the best reward. The medal is just a bonus. As such, everyone who managed to endure the physical torture that comes with running the ultramarathon would have been as thrilled as the two 2025 champions, Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads On Sunday, about 22,000 runners lined up for the 98th edition of one of the toughest ultramarathons in the world, battling themselves and the clock for victory during the 90km run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. 'What a day of drama. Packed with action from the start, the men's race, the women's race. Then, of course, there was the greatest race of all: everybody against the clock. That clock ticks at a relentless pace. It never cramps and it never gets tired. It just keeps going,' said nine-time Comrades champion Bruce Fordyce on SuperSport. Dijana's redemption Chasing redemption following a calamitous display as defending champion in 2024 — which saw him finish 14th — Dijana paced himself admirably on the way to crossing the finish line first, in 5:25:28. A year ago, the pressure of winning a historic hat-trick of Comrades titles had tripped Dijana up. He was also hampered by cramps. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads In 2025, there were no such occurrences. Dijana bunched up with fellow favourites including the eventual men's runner-up, Piet Wiersma, Edward Mothibi, David Gatebe and Joseph Manyedi. They were all chasing the early pacesetter, Onalenna Khonkhobe. Khonkhobe did not finish the race, despite leading it for 4½ hours. At one point, the 2024 Two Oceans Marathon winner enjoyed a gap of 19 minutes from the chasing pack, which featured Dijana and Wiersma. At Pinetown's Cowies Hill, the chasers caught up to and passed Khonkhobe. Then Dijana, Wiersma and Mothibi peeled away from the bunch. However, Mothibi struggled to keep up with Wiersma and Dijana. 'Today was not a good day for me. I was fit, I was ready. It's only when you run where you don't know what to expect,' said Mothibi. 'With 20km to go, I started cramping, but I held on. When Tete saw I was not coming back, he asked me what's going on. I said, 'I'm getting cramps. I don't think I'll be good to run with you. So, if you have a chance to go, just go.' He did exactly that,' said he 2019 winner. After failing to chase Dijana down, the Netherlands' Wiersma acknowledged that he and Dijana had built a rivalry over the last few years — one which will probably persist for some time as the two marathoners seek to outshine each other. 'Tete is clearly the down-run king right now. But I hope I can be the up-run king with a victory next year,' said Wiersma. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Steyn reigns supreme While the crown for the current king of the Comrades is being jousted for by Dijana and Wiersma, Olympian Steyn reigns supreme in the women's segment. Nevertheless, in Sunday's down run, Steyn did not have it all her way, with 2022 champion Alexandra Morozova putting pressure on her. Steyn wore her trademark smile for large portions of the race. However, at times, she grimaced as Morozova hovered over her shoulder. Eventually, Steyn's experience and home advantage paid dividends as she cruised to victory over the Russian, with a gap of almost five minutes. In third place, Kenya's Shelmith Muriuki became the first black woman to finish on the Comrades podium. Despite her history-making achievement, Muruiki finished 16 minutes behind home favourite Steyn. 'You feel like you are not inside your own body. It's like you are looking down on yourself doing it. To get to a point where you are in the finishing straight and you are going to win, it is meaningful and impactful,' said Steyn after her fourth Comrades victory. With more than 24,000 entries for this year's race, the organisers split the participants into two groups at the starting point. They were 15 minutes apart, with the elite runners heading off first. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads About 22,000 runners eventually lined up and the staggered start worked well in preventing pushing and shoving at the beginning. The exercise was a trial run for 2027, when many more participants are expected due to it being the 100th Comrades Marathon. DM
IOL News
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Incredible Dijana and Steyn focus on the prize and take Comrades glory
Tete Dijana won his third Comrades Marathon title in the down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers Down run king Tete Dijana came out victorious with Piet Wiersma hot on his heels during the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday. Dijana said he felt like a real winner, and he was indeed, a 'down-run real champion'. He said he could not explain how winning felt. 'I was so excited. Very, very excited and also emotional because I remember what happened last year… I was in the best shape, but the devil came, so I was happy that at least the devil didn't attack me this year,' Dijana said. 'I've been getting pressure from social media saying, 'don't let it go again', they used the word again. So I had to fix everything.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Dijana said he came prepared. His game plan in the morning was eyeing everyone, checking who was leading, but not underestimating his mates. On Wiersma closing in on him, Dijana said: 'In the last 10 kilometres, I saw he was closing in. Then I accelerated a little bit, and then the gap opened.' Wiersma, the 2024 champion, said he felt like he was in the best shape of his life and even better than last year. 'I was having a lot of discomfort over those last kilometres. Sometimes I was closing and sometimes Tete was gaining some distance,' Wiersma said. 'He's the absolute down run king, right now. I'm going to try next year to be the upper king again.' Third-place Nikolai Volkov said the race went according to his plan. When everyone told him to speed up, he decided not to. 'The first part of the race was based only on my feelings,' Volkov said. 'At one point in time, I was outraced by a big group of 15 people. I decided that I didn't want to go with them. I was still trying to cooperate with my feelings. In the last 20km, I caught up to 12 guys from this group.' Gerda Steyn clinched her fourth Comrades Marathon title on Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/ Independent Newspapers On the women's front, Gerda Steyn made it her fourth Comrades Marathon win. 'I set out at not too blistering a pace, a little bit more of a conservative approach. I really wanted to run the race correctly. It worked out well. It got comfortable for most of the way,' Steyn said. 'There was a little bit of a moment where I realised that Alexandra (Morozova) was closing the gap on me quite significantly in the really last stages of the race, which really made me stay on my toes and make sure that I am 100% focused and getting the most out of myself.' The champion said she had a time in mind, but not a strict one. She planned on getting in under 5 hours and 55 minutes. She added that it was an honour to give Hollywood Athletics Club a winner this year. Second place, Morozova said this is her best Comrades result and her best pace. 'Until the 30th kilometre, I kept the pace with Gerda… but after the 30th kilometre, it became clear that it was just a warm-up for Gerda… I decided to let Gerda run her race and to play my game,' Morozova said. 'I'm really glad I held my second place because at one point in time, I thought that the race for me was almost over. 'At one point in the race, I saw how Dominika (Stelmach) started to close the gap, and I was really afraid that she'll catch me.' Shelmisth Muriuki claimed third place on her first Comrades Marathon. 'I would like to say that it is through God's grace because I almost gave up at 50km… because my legs were paining, I had blisters… it is just God,' Muriuki said. 'The race was good. It was amazing.'
Daily Maverick
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
South Africa's Tete Dijana reclaims Comrades title from rival Wiersma, Gerda Steyn dominates women's race
Tete Dijana won the third Comrades Marathon title of his career, fending off heavy competition from Dutchman Piet Wiersma, while Gerda Steyn was peerless in the women's race. Rivalries make sports more intriguing. At the Comrades Marathon, a rivalry between South Africa's Tete Dijana and the Netherlands' Piet Wiersma has developed over the past few years. In 2025, it was Dijana who pipped Wiersma to victory. It is Dijana's third overall success at the Comrades, following victories in 2022 and 2023. In the latter race Wiersma finished just three seconds behind Dijana. This year the gap was slightly larger, as former North West University security guard Dijana crossed the finish line in 5:25:28. His Dutch rival was five seconds adrift. 'In my first 30km it was a little tough because I did not get enough rest yesterday. It must have been anxiety or something,' Dijana told SuperSport after the race. Dijana said reclaiming the Comrades title from Wiersma was all about 'corrections'. This after a disappointing title defence in 2024, when he suffered severe cramps and ended up in 14th place. Despite the intense pressure from his rival chasing him down this year, Dijana said he was calm in the run-in. 'In the last 10km I saw that he (Wiersma) was closing the gap and I accelerated a little bit to open a bigger gap. It was under control,' he said. After the race Wiersma acknowledged that he and Dijana now have a fully fledged rivalry. The 27-year-old said he would return again in 2028 to try to wrestle back his crown back from Dijana, who is 10 years his senior. 'I am a much better athlete than I was two years ago. I've done better training and I'm running full-time now. But I was not 100% today, I barely slept over the last three nights. I had stomach issues and I suspect some food poisoning. But Tete was the best today. Congratulations to him,' Wiersma said. 'I'll be back. Tete is clearly the down-run king right now. But I hope I can be the up-run king with a victory next year,' the Dutchman added. Russian Nikolai Volkov laboured to third place in 5:29:42, with South Africans Edward Mothibi and Joseph Manyedi closing off the men's top five. Queen of the Comrades As expected, Gerda Steyn was the winner of the women's race. The defending champion crossed the finish line in 5:51:19. It's Steyn fourth overall success in the Comrades. The 2022 winner, Alexandra Morozova, was a distant second (5:55:56). In third place, Kenya's Shelmith Muruiki made history as she became the first black woman to finish on the Comrades podium. South African Olympian Irvette van Zyl was fourth on her Comrades debut. 'What a day out here. I was taken away by the amazing support of the crowd. It's something I can't explain in words… I hope that with my God-given talent I can inspire some young girls to aspire to one day be runners – even if it's not as professionals,' said Steyn after her dominant performance. 'As for the race? It went according to plan and I'm very pleased to have bettered my pace from two years ago. It was an excellent day… Judging by the depth of the field we saw today, we'll see times decreasing more and more in the years to come,' Steyn added. About 22,000 runners started the 98th edition of the 'ultimate human race'. Due to this large contingent, the race organisers divided the runners into two groups – with the elite runners starting at 5.45am and the rest of the entrants beginning the trek from Pietermaritzburg to Durban 15 minutes later. All this in preparation for the centenary race of the Comrades in 2027, where the largest crowd is expected to be at the start line. DM Top five Men Tete Dijana (RSA) 5:25:28; Piet Wiersma (NED) +00:05; Nikolai Volkov (RUS) +04:13; Edward Mothibi (RSA) +06:13; Joseph Manyedi (RSA) +06:41 Women
