The Soweto Marathon just wrapped up the world of running, and it was quite a day! This year marked the 28th time the marathon has been run, and the local runners really shone, putting South Africa back in the spotlight.
In the men’s race, Ntsindiso Mphakathi made his hometown proud by being the first local man to win in 12 years! He finished the race in 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 13 seconds.
On the women’s side, Irvette van Zyl showed her skills by winning the marathon for the fourth time. She set a fantastic time of 2 hours, 34 minutes, and 16 seconds.
It’s been a while since a local man won the Soweto Marathon. The last time was back in 2011 when Michael Mazibuko came in first. So, Mphakathi’s victory this year is a big deal!
Irvette van Zyl, who hadn’t run this race since 2019, came back with a bang! She clocked a time of 2 hours, 33 minutes, and 43 seconds, setting a new record for the course.
In the half marathon, a runner named Kamohelo Mofolo from Maxed Elite Lesotho came in first among the men. He finished in 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 4 seconds.
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There were over 21,500 runners, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. People were smiling and sweating as they crossed the finish line.
The organizers and the main sponsor, African Bank, were really happy with how it all turned out. They were proud to see so many people pushing themselves and showing such great spirit.
After a long day of running, the athletes left the Soccer City Stadium feeling tired but proud. They had their medals, and many were already thinking about next year’s race.
It’s clear that the Soweto Marathon is more than just a race; it’s a celebration of determination and community spirit. Satya, it’s events like these that remind us of the incredible things people can achieve when they put their minds to it.
