Commitment was the common thread that linked the multi-facets of Kelello Makelo who passed away at Umhlanga Hospital after a short illness on Tuesday 8 January 2013.
Makelo was a runner, administrator and technical official within the athletics community where he was a founding member of the Lamontville club.
He ran the first of his seven Comrades in 1991 in the colours of Indumiso while training as a teacher age 21 years.
After a five year break he returned to the Comrades road, this time in Lamontville kit, completing the UP run in a time that would today have earned him a Bill Rowan medal, a feat he repeated three years later in the Down run giving his best time of 8:49:52.
This was the same year he ran the first of four Two Oceans 56km ultras, two of which made the sub five hour cut off time.
But it was his commitment to Administration where he most recently left his mark. Makelo, who commenced as an official in the mid nineties, was known for sharp analysis and application of rules, and spent his latter years as a committee member and leader in the provincial sport.
In April last year he was elected to the Executive of Kwazulu Natal Athletics where he carried the Technical portfolio.
The 45 year old commenced his professional career as a mathematics teacher at Lamontville High School, later moving into the world of assurance with Sanlam where he was acknowledged as one of the outstanding Financial Planners.
Makelo was appointed to the regional committee and made major inputs in to the transformation of the business sector.
He was never one to forget his background and in addition to driving and sponsoring the community through the Lamonville athletic club, Makelo was appointed to his old School Governing Body, which he was known to vigorously support.
This commitment was also evident in his church community and again reflected in his business life when entered private practice in uMsimelelo Financial Services.
In December 1995 he married his childhood sweetheart, Zenzi, where that hallmark commitment shone as a successful husband and father of three.
His untimely passing has left the athletic community shocked, with a large representation attending his memorial service on Thursday 10 January 2013.