Coming on home: winner of the Soweto Marathon Tsotang Maene

RELATED LINKS: Catch People's Marathon on TV THE People's Marathon, South Africa's richest standard marathon, takes place on Sunday, 6 November through the streets of Soweto. The People's Marathon is the popular name of the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon. Read more People's Race draws near SOUTH Africa's richest standard marathon is just around the corner, and athletes are advised to enter and get training. Read more Agony and ecstasy for Soweto Marathon winner WITH R50 000 at stake for the first across the finish line in the 13th Old Mutual Soweto Marathon on Sunday, top contenders powered their way around the course, taking little time to take in the historic sites. Read more Exciting plans for Soweto SOWETO'S huge population has not been catered for in terms of retail or business space. However, the Soweto Development Initiative is set to change that. Read more The irrepressible spirit of Soweto It would be foolish to suggest that Region 6 or its Sowetan sister, Region 10, have anything but a devastatingly difficult task ahead of them in building what was once the vast black labour dormitory of Johannesburg into a prosperous urban area - one in which all its residents and the whole country can take pride. Read more

The end of the road: women's winner Mamarola Tjoka

Personal best for winner of People's Race NOT even rain could dampen the spirit of Sunday's Soweto Marathon, as hundreds lined the street to cheer on the runners. November 7, 2005 By Tshepiso Seopa THE light showers that fell before the start of the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon on Sunday morning did little to dampen the spirits of the 8 000 runners who had arrived for the race. The marathon, which celebrated its 14th anniversary, began on schedule at 6am at Nasrec expo centre, with Liberty Nike's Peter Ramotoka taking the early lead before falling out of contention along Vikakazi Street in Orlando. The People's Race, as it is more popularly called, is run through the streets of Soweto and usually brings hordes of people out of their homes to cheer the runners along the route. This year was no different, despite the cool weather and intermittent showers. Participants ran past famous Soweto landmarks such as Nelson Mandela's first house and Archbishop Desmond Tutu's home, both on Vilakazi Street, as well as the Hector Pieterson memorial. People lined the streets, lustily blowing vuvuzelas or shouting encouragement. Several streets parties were also set up on the route, where local DJs entertained the crowds. Many watching the race on television abandoned their couches as the runners drew near their houses, joining in the action live. Top marathoners, Sipho Ngomane, Moses Njodzi, Lucketz Swaartbooi and Shadrack Hof were in the leading pack from the 22km mark until the 36km point, on Old Potchefstroom Road near the Soweto College of Education. Then Tsotang Maene took the lead, running strongly up Diepkloof Hill and clinching the race in a tensely fought battle with a personal best time of 2:20.13. Second man home, just 32 seconds off the pace, was Swaartbooi, followed by Njodzi in a time of 2:21:13. "My coach told me to run hard at 21 km and that's what I did," Maene said. "I took advantage of the hill because I train in the hills in Lesotho and that made things easier for me today." Maene, who lives in Lesotho and trains just outside Maseru, could not contain his tears as he described some of the challenges that nearly disrupted his preparations for the race. "I had a bout of 'flu earlier on in the week and yesterday I was not feeling well." Mamarola Tjoka, who came fourth last year, won the women's race in 2:49.45. The 22-year-old Mr Price runner, who is also from Lesotho, could not stand after completing the 42 km race. Tjoka said she was well prepared for this year's race. "This year I have been winning most of the races that I have entered and that motivated me". Dimakatso Morobi of Liberty Nike took second place in a time of 2:56:27, with Betty Phungwayo of Randburg Harriers coming home in third in 3:01:02. The Soweto Marathon took place for the first time ever in 1991, with Jerry Modiga and Elena Meyer taking the top places. Total prize money for this year amounted to R420 000, with the first place finishers each receiving R50 000. Results: Top 10 senior men in the 42km race: 1. Tsotang Maene (Liberty Nike) 2:20:15; 2. Luketz Swartbooi (Harmony) 2:20:47; 3. Moses Njodzi (Harmony) 2:21:13; 4. Lebenya Nkoka (Mr Price) 2:21:32; 5. Johannes Kekana (Liberty Nike) 2:21:51; 6. Joseph Maseka (Harmony) 2:2159; 7. Collen Makuza (Mr Price) 2:22:12; 8. Mike Fokorani (Harmony) 2:22:18; 9. Henri Moyo (Malawi) 2:22:22; 10. Mabuthilu Lebopo (Mr Price) 2:24:39. Top 10 senior women in the 42km race: 1. Mamarola Tjoka (Mr Price) 2:49:45; 2. Dimakatso Morobi (Liberty Nike) 2:56:27; 3. Betty Phungwayo (Randburg Harriers) 3:01:02; 4. Makutoane Matlakeng (Mr Price) 3:04:07; 5. Eunice Nhlapo (Liberty Nike) 3:04:11; 6. Sibongile Rathokoa (Harmony) 3:05:22; 7. Elizabeth Mongudhi (Harmony) 3:05:25; 8. Margaret Moghohoma (Harmony) 3:08:45; 9. Angelina Molaba (Mr Price) 3:09:42; 10. Lindsay van Aswegen (Liberty Nike) 3:11:28. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za