"This is so special" - Nose clocks 2:09 on marathon debut

South African long distance rising star Cwenga Nose produced a remarkable performance on his marathon debut, clocking 2:09:15 at the Amsterdam Marathon in the Netherlands on Sunday, 18 October 2026. The 26-year-old Phantane Athletics Club top runner took 23rd position overall in a competitive field where Ethiopia's Lemi Berhanu claimed victory in an impressive 2:03:33. Speaking to #TheTopRunner after the race, an elated Nose said he was overwhelmed by his achievement.

Nose in action alongside Comrades Marathon champion George Kusche and his Phantane AC teammate Samuel Cijimpi Moloi at the 2026 Amsterdam Marathon. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"I'm happy to be able to run such a good time. I can't describe how I'm feeling at the moment. This is so special to me, as I was running the marathon distance for the first time in my career," said Nose who was among several South Africans who delivered encouraging performances in the Dutch capital.

Comrades Marathon champion George Kusche recorded a lifetime best of 2:10:09, while Durban International Marathon champion Cijimpi Samuel Moloi crossed the finish line in 2:11:13 to take 21 seconds off his personal best. Nose's Phantane Athletics Club teammate Bongelani Mkhwanazi also completed the race in a satisfactory 2:14:46.

Nose, Mkhwanazi and Moloi pose for a photo after finishing the race. Photo Credit: Supplied.

Nose, who clocked a lifetime best 1:01:09 in the half marathon at last month’s World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, revealed that breaking the 2:10 barrier had been his primary objective and his recent performances and training form had given him confidence that he was capable of achieving the milestone.

"I came into the race looking to run under two hours and 10 minutes. Since June, after the SA Half Marathon Championships, where I won a silver medal (1:02:16), the shape I've been in indicated that I could run faster. It was all about sticking to the plan,” he explained.

Nose also credited the race organisers for helping athletes prepare strategically by providing guidance on pacing and race logistics ahead of the event.

Nose poses with Khumalo and the rest of the Phantane AC team. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"The organisers made things easier for us as runners. They held a meeting with the athletes and explained which bus to take if you were aiming for a certain time. They indicated that we needed to go through halfway in between 64:15 and 64:45 if we wanted to run under 2:10. I decided to stick to those projections. Overall, the course is very flat, and it is ideal for fast times," he added.

Despite executing his race plan successfully, Nose admitted that he encountered difficulties during the latter stages of the marathon.

"Most runners say the marathon starts at 30km, and I experienced that today. From around 31km until 38km, I struggled a bit. However, I managed to carry on and produce a strong finish in the end," he said.

Nose poses with his bronze medal after taking third position in the 10 000m at the ASA Senior Track & Field Championships. Photo Credit: Supplied.

Building on a solid 2025 season, Nose's outstanding performance in the Netherlands adds to what he describes as the season of his life. The talented distance runner who earned the bronze medal over 10 000m at the national track and field championships in April and was named the best male road runner of the year at the KwaZulu-Natal Athletics Awards in August, attributes much of his progress to his partnership with coach Mdu Khumalo, the founder of Phantane Athletics Club.

"So far, this has been the best year of my running career. I think working with coach Khumalo has contributed significantly to that. I adapted easily to his programme, which made things much easier for me. Besides that, he is a wonderful human being to work with," Nose concluded.