Stephen Mokoka gears up to defend his Cape Town Marathon title

The highly anticipated 42.2km race is set to unfold in the scenic city of Cape Town on Sunday, October 15, with the starting pistol sounding off at 5:30 a.m.

Mokoka, the current course record holder with an impressive 2:08:31, stands as the clear frontrunner poised to claim the R250 000 prize money designed for the first male and female runners to cross the finish line.

Notably, Mokoka recently prepared for the upcoming marathon with an 11th-place finish at the prestigious World Half-Marathon Championships in Riga, Latvia, where his Steller performance contributed to Team SA securing a commendable third place in the men’s team category.

With unwavering determination, Mokoka expressed he’s hopeful anticipation of successfully defending his championship title.

“Indeed, I can confirm my participation in this year’s Cape Town Marathon. My preparation involved competing in the World Half-Marathon in Latvia, although it wasn’t the ideal scenario. I deemed intensive preparations necessary. My primary aim is to defend my championship title successfully – that’s the strategy. I eagerly anticipate the marathon, as it marks my final race of the year,” he disclosed to SABC Sport.

Under the guidance of the esteemed athletics coach Michael Seme, Mokoka aspires to deliver an outstanding performance on race day to bring pride to his training group and coach.

He emphasized “We’ve put in a lot of effort with the team, and I’m determined to make it count for them. I’m currently in peak condition and in excellent health, ready to put forth a strong race,” he added.