ELITES
THE MEN ’ S ULTRA MARATHON : Mokoka versus
a deep field filled with danger
With Mokoka on everyone ’ s lips , there are one or two men ’ s athletes who could make life far from easy for the apparent would-be champ – By Ace Magawana
Not since the record-breaking feat of Thomson Magawane in 1988 and the three-peat attempt of Zithulele Sinqe in 1998 has there been such excitement surrounding the announcement of one athlete ’ s entry into the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon . Stephen Mokoka , arguably the best road runner in the country presently , has the running community salivating with the prospect of one of the most competitive races ever at the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon .
Pedigree par excellence
Mokoka ’ s pedigree is incredible . 26 National titles ranging from distances of 1500m to the marathon and including cross country . Representing South Africa on 35 occasions . 14 podiums in 20 marathon starts . An average time of 2:08.24 for the marathon . A marathon PB of 2:06.42 ( only Gert Thys has ever gone faster ). The list goes on .
Now Mokoka will turn his attention to the 56km of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon and immediately the talk is around the 36-year-old course record of Thomson Magawana ( 3:03.44 ) from 1988 . Mokoka is the first to dispel the rumour mill that he is gunning for the record , his focus will be the same as in every other race . First to finish the race . Second to finish the race strong . Third to win . And only then do thoughts of a record enter his mind .
But one cannot help but wonder . Mokoka is used to racing at speeds of 2:57 / 8 per kilometre . To break the course record an average pace of 3:18 / km is required . But Mokoka runs those times on a flat course and the Totalsports Two
Oceans Marathon is anything but flat . So , his approach will need to be different . Not used to running at slower speeds and encountering hills has meant that Mokoka ’ s training has had to adapt .
Mokoka though is the consummate professional in how he prepares for any race , and will have considered those factors come race day . And Mokoka doesn ’ t show up at a race he has no intention of winning . So , the battle lines are drawn .
Racing is not done on paper
With his 27:38 PB in the 10k , a 59:36 PB in the Half Marathon ( SA Record ) and his 2:06.42 marathon PB , Mokoka is , on paper , the man to beat . He is 5 minutes faster than his nearest rivals , Sboniso Sikhakane ( Entsika ) ( 2:11.49 ) and 2022 champion Endale Belachew ( Maxed Elite ) ( 2:11.51 ). But both Belachew and Sikhakane are not novices beyond 50km and know the terrain that awaits . While Mokoka has run 2:40.13 for 50km ( a WR before it was broken by America ’ s CJ Albertson who ran 2:38.43 ), that too was over the flat terrain of the Gqeberha beachfront .
So while Mokoka does come into the race wearing the favourite ’ s mantle , it is by no means an open and shut case .
The Challengers
Already mentioned are Endale Belachew and Sboniso Sikhakane . But there are quite a few who will make life very difficult for Mokoka .
Defending champion , Givemore Mudzinganyama ( Entsika ) is back . This time though he , too , is a marked man . Mudzinganyama used his training partners to great effect in 2023 in preparing for the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon . He would hone his speed at the famous Zoo Lake grounds where he would chase the likes of SA 10k and SA 5k Record Holders Precious Mashele and Maxime Chaumeton .
Belachew was the surprise package of 2022 when he won by outsprinting Nkosikhona Mhlakwana on the grass at the finish on the UCT grounds . Only 3 seconds separated the two , while he has not had the best of performances since that day , a DNF at Comrades the same year and at the Nedbank Runnified in 2023 , he cannot be ignored . How he won two years ago clearly indicated there was more left in the tank if it was required . Belachew has competed in five marathons since 2015 and has been off the podium only once when he finished 4th on debut .
The Nedbank Team will , as usual , feature a strong team with the “ smiling assassin ”, Onalenna Khonkhobe , a very real threat . Khonkhobe raced to the fastest ever half spilt in last year ’ s Comrades
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