WeeklySA_AdminSoweto marathon: Ntsindiso Mphakathi aims to retain title he won last year
By Sports Reporter
Dubbed “The People’s Race,” the African Bank Soweto Marathon returns on Sunday, November 3,202, and will again offer entrants the option of the 42.2km, 21.1km or 10km race.
The marathon is no ordinary race and has a special place in the hearts of many South African runners.
The only race of its magnitude set in a township where some of South Africa’s greats have walked, the Soweto Marathon honours this heritage of Soweto by taking runners past the iconic landmarks of Soweto namely the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Walter Sisulu Square, the Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Credo Mutwa Cultural Village, Morris Isaacson High School & June 16 Memorial Acre, Vilakazi Street and the Hector Pieterson Memorial.
At this race people from all walks of life come together for the same cause The race will start & finish at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec.
Last year’s chapter saw Ntsindiso Mphakathi, a young and determined athlete from Port Saint Johns in the Eastern Cape who had dreamed of winning the Soweto Marathon for as long as he could remember.
As South Africa reclaimed the African Bank Soweto Marathon on Sunday, 05 November at the iconic FNB stadium, Mphakathi and another local Irvette van Zyl emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.
On a crisp and clear morning, Soweto buzzed with excitement as runners and spectators filled the streets. Mphakathi stood among a sea of athletes, ready to prove himself as the pressure was mounting for SA runners, having last won the “People’s Race” over a decade ago.
Mphakathi’s victory was a significant and uplifting moment for South Africa, marking the end of dominance by foreign nationals in the men’s category.
He triumphantly crossed the finish line with a remarkable time of 2:19.13, outpacing the defending champion, Ethiopian Daba Debele, and the formidable competitor from Zimbabwe, Tonny Skink, who claimed second and third place, respectively.
Van Zyl, on the other hand, recorded time was 2:34.16, surpassing Selam Gebre from Ethiopia and Faith Chepkoech from Kenya, but could miss this year’s race due to injury.
