NEW records have been set for this year’s Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon with mouth-watering prizes.
This annual race, which includes a distance of 56km and 21.1km, this year is sponsored by the company that manufactures electric vehicles, BYD, which will give easy feet to those who are part of this race, from runners to coaches and officials.
The 56km distance, which is the most watched, will be run on Saturday from 5.15am, while the 21.1km will start at 6.15am on Sunday
This year’s race is funded with a sum of R2.6 million, which includes prizes for both categories.
In 56km, the winner of men and women will walk away with R380 000, the second will be R220 000, the third will be R100 000. The champion’s money will increase by R130 000 compared to last year.
In 21.1km, the winner will win R50 000, the second will be R30 000, the third will be R18 000.
Last year, Khoarahlane Seutloali from Lesotho, who runs for the Hollywood Athletics Club, won the men’s 56km race with a time of 3:10:47.
Second was Siboniso Sikhakhane of Entsika Athletics Club at 3:11:18, third was Lucky Mohale of Nedbank Running Club at 3:11:27.
For women, Gerda Steyn of Hollywood AC won with 3:29:11, second was Shelmith Muriuki from Kenya running for Entsika AC with 3:37:51, third was Neheng Katala from Lesotho running for Hollywood AC with 3:40:39.
Steyn, who has won the race six times in a row, holds the women’s 56km record of 3:26:54, which she will set in 2024.
He is the one who will be watched in this year’s race to see if he will be able to continue to dominate and set another record.
For men, it is being watched whether Seutloali, who also won the Soweto Marathon of 42km in November, will be able to defend the title.
He is facing a challenge from Onalenna Khonkhobe and Siboniso Sikhakhane, who are likely to beat him to death.
The Two Oceans men’s record of 3:03:34 set by Thompson Magawana in 1988, has not been broken so far.
Marco Mambo from Zimbabwe who clocked 3:05:39 in 2005, and his family Moses Njodzi who clocked 3:06:50 in 2006, are the ones who have come close to matching Magawana’s record.