Mokoka and Motlagale victorious at sold-out Johnson Crane Marathon
- Lebohang Pita
- 52 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Stephen Mokoka's road to the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon got off to a flying start after he claimed a commanding victory in the men's 21.1km at a sold-out Johnson Crane Marathon in Benoni on January 25.
The veteran Hollywood AC runner stopped the clock at in 1:07:17, holding off a strong field that included Lesetja Papo, Siboniso Sikhakhane and six-time winner Lucky Mohale. Papo of Maxed Elite Running Club was five seconds off the pace after crossing the line in 1:07:22 to claim the runner-up spot, while Entsika AC's Sikhakhane rounded-off the podium in 1:07:33. Speaking to #TheTopRunner, Mokoka said the race served as a timely gauge of his current form as he builds towards the official start of his season in March.
"I just tried to get a good place. It's a season starter to see where I am. I'm happy. I wanted to finish under 66 minutes but I'm grateful that Lesetja, Siboniso, Lucky and Gladwin Mzazi were pushing the pace. I just sat behind them to maintain the splits. The race has given me an indication of when I am. I'm happy with how the body felt. I'm going to go back to training and push as hard as I can to be ready when my season officially starts in March," he said.
With 18 weeks before the start of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, the athlete, owner of a 59:36 in the half marathon and a blistering 2:06:42 in the full marathon, said the race served as a timely maker, highlighting the key areas he needs to fine tune before taking to the start line on May 24.
"It's almost 18 weeks to the race. With the time I ran, I'm happy. It shows that I still have a lot of work I still have to do. But I have to be careful in terms of my training because 18 weeks is a lot. I’m looking forward to the race."
Meyerton AC teenager Minki Lotter clocked 01:26:31 to win the women's half-marathon. The Benoni Northerns Athletic Club's Kaitlyn Bubb clinched the runner-up spot in 01:26:57 after outpacing Nedbank Running Club's Shanice Peens on the finishing straight to win by a second.
In the marathon, Phantane AC's Tumelo Motlagale got his Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon preparations underway with a dominant victory in the men's race. Motlagale took the line honours in 2:21:24, crossing the line 1:37 ahead of runner-up Tonny Skink. Nedbank's Puseletso Mofokeng completed the podium in 2:23:43.
"I spoke to last year's winner Sikhumbuzo Seme before the race. He won in 2:24:42. With my 02:21:24, I'm very happy. This was my Two Oceans qualifier. I can now focus on my preparation for the race," he said.
Two-time Comrades Marathon gold medallist Adele Broodryk lost the women’s 42,2km race to Kenyan Soweto Marathon gold medalist Gladys Jepchirchir by 31 seconds. Broodryk completed the race in 2:58:20, as Omuhle Kubheka claimed third place (2:59:58). The Nedbank Running Club top runner said this was a tempo run as she intensifies her Two Oceans and Comrades preparation.
"I'm busy with my mileage and build up for the Two Oceans and Comrades. I'm taking every race to gain race experience and get back the form I was in," she said.
According to the organisers, Benoni Harriers, over 13 500 runners toed the line in the marathon and half-marathon, a record field in the race's 43-year history.
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