Onalena Khonkhobe completes rare SA marathon double

Representing the Nedbank Running Club, Khonkhobe has become the first South African to do the double as crossed the finish line in 2:18:36, and secured the R250,000 prize.

Khonkhobe, who is the second local champion in the last two years – following Ntsindiso Mphakathi's win last year, says he did not anticipate winning the race on his Soweto Marathon debut.

"I am very happy because it's my first time running at the Soweto Marathon but the race stressed me on Vilakazi Street but after passing Vilakazi Street I felt fine. Then my mentality became stronger, I said I'm going to win the Soweto Marathon because my only stress was Vilakazi street," Khonkhobe said.

Lesotho’s Joseph Seutloali finished close behind in 2:18:54 for second place, with Kenya’s Kipsang Kipkemoi taking third in 2:19:05.

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The North West-born runner made a late surge to overtake Seutloali in the final kilometre, which he admitted was a daring feat in the dying stages of the race.

"The last 1km is tough, I think I almost gave Joseph the race because the last 1km is tough. Then I saw that Joseph is struggling then I just ran until finishing and there's no time to complain about the running shoes," he added.

Although he acknowledged feeling exhausted, Khonkhobe managed to summon an extra burst of energy to cross the finish line first.

"When I started to open the gap, I felt so happy in my mind I was thinking about finishing because already I'm tired."