Brave Mokgola conquers Sanlam Cape Town marathon

The Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) runner Isaac Mokgola showed his bravery when he completed the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 10km Peace Run and 42.2km race on two consecutive days.

The Thembisa resident had initially planned to participate in only the marathon on October 20 but changed his mind during his pre-race planning when he realised the event would be dominated by East African athletes and would have no chance of a podium.

“I realised the race would be tough because of the Kenyans and Ethiopians, so I decided to do the 10km to attempt a podium and then do an easy run in the marathon to recover,” he said.

Mokgola clocked a podium in the veteran men’s category when he crossed the line in a new 10km personal milestone of 32:41 for third place in the Peace Run on October 19.

“I enjoyed the race. It was very fast. I averaged around 03:17m/km. I’m happy for the podium in my category as well as the PB,” he said.

The next day he lined up in the 42.2km main race, achieving a sub-three hours finish after completing the event in 02:51:13 for seventh in his category and 257th overall out of a field of almost 17 000 runners.

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“I was still fresh when I finished the race. I could have finished under 02:30 or 02:40 but my focus is on the shorter distances at the moment.”

Although still recovering, Mokgola will attempt to complete the Thembisa Mile 10km race on Sunday (October 27) in under 34m and thereafter will target a podium in his category in the Soweto Marathon 10km race next month.

The BAC was represented by 15 runners on both days of the event, with 14 completing their events while one did not finish.

Rieghardt Rautenbach also clocked sub-three hours in the marathon when he completed the race in 02:54:24, while coach Frank de Ascencao was sixth in the men’s grandmasters 10km race after crossing the line in 45:01.

The men’s main 42.2km race was won by Ethiopian Abdisa Tola Adena in 02:06:15 and the winner of SPAR Women’s Grand Prix, Glenrose Xaba smashed the course and national records after winning the women’s race on her debut in the distance.

Xaba clocked 02:22:21 for her win, chalking 01:40 off the course record and 01:41 off Gerda Steyn’s national record of 02:24:03.

Tayla Kavanagh (32:38) and Deon-Lee Hendricks (29:50) won the women’s and men’s 10km peace run.

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