'It's my first time winning a marathon' – Lesiba Mmotlana wins inaugural MNS Attorneys Carnival City Marathon

With no less than half a dozen marathon and ultra marathons taking place across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the North West Provinces this week, top runners have been spoilt for choice. For example, two standard marathons took place yesterday (1 May), with the country's 50km specialists choosing to run the MiWay Wally Hayward Marathon in Pretoria or save themselves for the North West N12 Ultra Marathon on 3 May, which has a R50 000 winner's purse.

This meant that in the absence of the country's more recognized elite athletes Lesiba Mmotlana notched up his first ever marathon win at the inaugural MNS Attorneys Carnival City Marathon in Brakpan, Ekurhuleni on May 1. Mmotlana, who turns 40 on May 9, averaged 4:06min/km to win the men's race in 2:52:57, shaving 2:35 off his marathon best of 2:55:32 achieved at last year's Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. The overwhelmed Correctional Services RC athlete burst into tears while engaging with the media after crossing the line, saying afterwards, it was his first ever 42.2km victory.

Lesiba Mmotlana breaks the tape to win the MNS Attorneys Carnival City Marathon. Photo Credit: Lebohang Pita.

"I missed good times in marathons last year. I've been on a program to achieve six consecutive sub-three hour marathons. I achieved it today. That's why I’m so emotional," he told #TheTopRunner.

The athlete started fast, covering the first 13km in 50:05 at a pace of 3:55min/km. Afterwards, he dropped the pace slightly to run the next 21km in 1:24:44 at 4:06min/km to reach the 34km mark in 2:14:49. He struggled on the back end of the race, completing the remaining 8km in 38:09 running at 4:24min/km, to ultimately break the tape in a PB 2:52:57.

"It's my first time winning a marathon. I'm so excited. Thanks to Ben Maluleka who paced me in the first lap. After the first lap, I saw the lead cars and realised I was in front. I was a bit under pressure because I had to maintain that pace. I carried on until I finished," he said.

Lesiba Mmotlana is flanked by runner-up Lucky Morajane and third-placed Happy Vuyo. Photo Credit: Lebohang Pita.

The race formed part of Mmotlana's Comrades Marathon preparation. He will compete in his fifth ultimate human race and is gunning for a back-to-back silver medal after finishing last year's up-run in 7:29:47.

"I've been on a Comrades training program since July 2024 until today. My preparation ends today. I will be tapering until the week before Comrades. I'm also targeting a new PB in Durban. I want another silver in a better time," said Mmotlana. "It was always my wish to have a 42.2km Comrades qualifier in the Far East Rand. Coming here and qualifying for Comrades with a good seeding is exciting. It's a good thing for runners to come here and challenge their PB's. I hope next year, this race gets lots of sponsors."