HALF MARATHON
Legends
The Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon was first run in 1998 and has seen 26 editions take place. A total of 2383 runners have earned a permanent Light Blue Number for completing the Half Marathon 10 times or more, with a further 4 runners achieving their Light Blue Numbers by winning the race three times, including Five-time women’ s winner Helalia Johannes( Namibia) and four-time men’ s winner Stephen Mokoka.
Leading Half Marathon runner, Allan Knighton-Fitt, with 26 voyages
Only one runner, Allan Knighton-Fitt, has finished the race every single year thus far, but at this stage he is not due to run the 2026 race, while Richard Hook and Marlene James, both on 25 medals, will be looking to also move up to 26 medals. At present, a total of 73 runners have finished the race 20 times or more, including current TOM NPC Chairperson Chris Goldschmidt( 20 Half medals – to go with his 12 Ultra medals). Of those 73 runners, 25 are women, with
Going for her 26th Half voyage will be 82-yearold Marlene James
82-year-old Marlene James being the leading female runner on this list, followed by Annemarie Brand, Heleen Killian and Michele Priestman, all currently on 24 medals.
MOST HALF MARATHON VOYAGES OVERALL
( Figure in brackets is the athlete’ s Light Blue Number.)
26 |
Allan Knighton-Fitt( 35) |
25 |
Richard Hook( 11) |
25 * |
Marlene James( 60) |
24 |
Dick Bradshaw( 23) |
24 * |
Annemarie Brand( 59) |
24 * |
Heleen Kilian( 102) |
24 |
Paul Maggott( 13) |
24 |
Wayne Petersen( 79) |
24 |
Rassie Pretorius( 103) |
24 * |
Michele Priestman( 106) |
24 |
Gerald Sullivan( 84) |
24 |
Andries Swart( 87) |
23 |
John Boon( 189) |
23 |
Joubert Hofmeyr( 68) |
23 |
Johan Lategan( 142) |
23 |
Roderick Mann( 116) |
23 |
Brent Walsh( 166) |
* Female runners. |
Youngest runner going for a 20th Half voyage will be Sean Kirsten
Another 22 athletes will be aiming to complete their 20th Half Marathon voyage in 2026- 15 men and 7 women – with the oldest being Les Hanna( 78) and the youngest Sean Kirsten( 44). Look out for their race numbers with yellow stripes and wish them well on their journey.
MOST TRAIL RUN
After 12 editions of the Two Oceans Trail Runs( 2010-2019, 2022 and 2025), only one runner, Dominic Wills, can lay claim to earning a‘ full house’ of 12 medals. He holds permanent Khaki Number( KN) 3 – the first two permanent numbers were awarded to three-time winners Landie Greyling and Kane Reilly – and Wills also ran the one-off Two Oceans Beast Trail Run in 2015. The next runner on this list is Glenda Monson, with 11 Trail Run medals, followed by four runners with 10 medals each: Dave Bywater, Chanele Jenkinson, Kim- Marie Wright and Norrie Williamson.
Dominic Wills, the only runner to complete every one of the 12 Two Oceans Trail Runs
11 DOING THEIR 30TH ULTRA VOYAGE
Images: Two Oceans Marathon, Action Photo SA |
After 54 editions of the Ultra Marathon, just 97 runners have completed the race 30 times or more, and this number includes just three women. In 2026, a further 11 runners will be looking to join this select club, with the oldest being 79-year-old Lawrence Ashworth, while the youngest will be Curtiss Rajoo( 53). Also in this group will be one woman, Kim Pain, who is set to become just the fourth women to complete the Ultra 30 times.
Denzil Abrahams Lawrence Ashworth David Beard
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Robert Button Mark Carlson Ravi Govender Kim Pain Deon Pienaar Curtis Rajoo Christiaan Steyn Arthur Valasis
These runners will also be wearing distinctive yellow-striped numbers on race day, with the medal tally 29 written just underneath the colour bar, so look out for them and give them a deserved cheer as they make their way towards the finish and their Triple Laurel Blue Numbers.
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Kim Pain is aiming to become just the fourth woman to reach 30 Ultra Voyages |
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