Lesetedi claims 42-kilometre title
Gaolathilhe Lesetedi snatched his first-ever Uniwisp Kaapsehoop 3-in-1 Marathon title, presented by Nelspruit Marathon Club, on Saturday with a time of two hours, 28 minutes and 39 seconds with an average speed of 16,8 kilometres per hour.
With two kilometres to go, Lesetedi led by 15 seconds ahead of LVCC’s Lovers Hlatshwayo, who claimed second place with a time of 2:30:39.
“I started to slow. I only broke away from the peloton at the 10-kilometre mark. I closed the gap in the last five kilometres and ran the last stretch on my own,” said Lesetedi.
He is currently training with 2015 Comrades Marathon winner, Gift Kelehe, and last year’s champion, David Gatebe.
“I want to win next year’s downhill Comrades. The Kaapsehoop Marathon was part of my training ahead of next year’s season.”
Mpumalanga hosted the South African 10-kilometre championships.
Elroy Galant is SA’s newly crowned 10-kilometre champion. He completed the race in 29:08 – more than two minutes ahead of last year’s winner, Kabelo Seboko (30:52).
“It was the first time that I competed in the Kaapsehoop marathon. It’s such an amazing scenic route,” said Galant.
From the starting point, local runners such as Folavio Sehohle and William Mashaba were part of the first eight runners. At the turn-around mark, Precious Mashale (third, 28:17) was leading, but by the 24th minute, Galant and Gladwin Mzazi (second, 29:15) made the break.
The title-holder could only be determined in the last two kilometres, as Mzazi only was seconds behind Galant.
