Tsotang Maene (Lesotho) win the 2005 Soweto Marathon (© Mark Ouma)
Lesotho's Tsotang Maene and Mamarola Tjoka clocked career bests on their way to victory at the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon today.
It is the first time since the race was first staged in 1991 that both winners have come from Lesotho. Popularly known as “The People’s Marathon”, the event was for the first time televised live on the country's public broadcaster, SABC Sports.
MEN
Taking advantage of the cool weather conditions Moses Mashini (South Africa) took an early lead in the event, covering the first 10km in 33:56. However, the chasing group who were some 200m adrift gradually caught up with him by 20km, as Mashini’s hopes fizzled. Over the next 15km, South Africans Johannes Kekana, Elias Modise, Joseph Maseka, and Namibia veteran Lukertz Swartbooi, 39, the 1993 World Championships silver medallist, took turns leading the race.
Maene’s surge at 37km finally thinned out the lead group of about 20 athletes. The defining moment of the race came at a steep incline of 350 metres,the race's own “heartbreak hill “ in Diepkloof. Maene opened a 150m lead. Although Swartbooi pursued him he had left too much work.
Maene won in a career best of 2:20:15. Runner-up Swartbooi (2:20:47) achieved his best position ever at the event, while the fast finishing Zimbabwean Moses Njodzi (2:21:13) clinched third spot.
"Sensing that the start of the race would be fast on account of the favourable weather conditions, our coach (Kenneth Hlasa) instructed us to hold back for the first half of the race,” Maene explained. “I waited until the 35km before making my move. I knew that with my training in the mountains in Lesotho, I would prevail at the “heart break hill, “said a delighted Maene.
“This time we only entered four men instead of 20 because we wanted a high quality performance. We are now paying specific attention to developing long distance runners in the Lesotho mountains for the Commonwealth Games next March in Melbourne, Australia,” coach Hlasa revealed.
WOMEN
Meanwhile in the women’s race, South Africa’s Margaret Mahamba led for the first 18km, trailed by Dimakatso Morobi, and Mararola Tjola. However, Mahamba soon begun to tire rapidly, while Morobi, who had an upset stomach, stopped for a while, so it was left for Tjola to make her break at 22km and win in 2:49:45, her first sub-3 hours performance in the event. Morbi (2:56:27) and Phungwayo (3:01:02) followed in that order.
“This year I was sure of improving on last year’s performance last year. I have been winning the 10km, 15km and the one half marathon race I won,” said Tjoka who was running her second full marathon. “I could have run faster but we lack a pace maker in the second half of the race.”
10km races
Meanwhile Zimbabwe, which had in previous years dominated the men’s Marathon, salvaged some national pride in the men’s 10km. Cuthbert Nyasango won the race in 30:12. His compatriot Virimayo Juwawo (30:26) was runner-up ahead of South Africa’s Enos Matalane (30:28). In the women’s race, South Africa’s Louise Leballo (34:32) carried the day after prevailing over the Phalula twins Lebohang (34:46) and Lebo (35:21).
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
Results
MARATHON
Men
1 Tsotang Maene (Lesotho) 2:20:15 PB
2 Luketz Swartbooi (Namibia) 2:20:47
3 Moses Njodza (Zimbabwe) 2:21:13
Women
1 Mamarola Tjoka (Lesotho) 2:49:45 PB
2 Dimakatso Morobi (South Africa) 2:56:27
3 Betty Phungwayo (South Africa) 3:01:02
10km
Men
1 Cuthbert Nyasango (Zimbabwe) 30:12
2 Virimayo Juwawo (Zimbabwe) 30:26
3 Enos Matalane (South Africa) 30:28
Women
1 Louise Leballo (South Africa) 34:32
2 Lebohang Phalula (South Africa) 34:46
3 Lebo Phalula (South Africa) 35:21
