Mokoka sets national record at World Half-Marathon Champs
Although he had to settle for seventh place, Stephen Mokoka managed to improve his own South African record by fifteen seconds at the World Half-Marathon Championships in Poland.
South African athletes delivered good performances across the board on Saturday, with 35-year old local superstar from Pretoria, Stephen Mokoka, leading the national squad home at the World Half-Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland.
Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda won the race in 58:49.
Mokoka finished seventh in the men’s race in 59:36, slicing 15 seconds off his own SA record set in Buenos Aires, Argentina last year.
Of the four South African athletes who participated (three men, one woman) three finished in the top 20 and all of them clocked personal best performances.
In the men’s race, Precious Mashele finished 15th in 1:00:24 and Collen Mulaudzi was 23rd in 1:00:51, with both athletes setting personal bests as the squad handed the country a fifth placing in the team competition.
Earlier, in the women’s contest another local star from Gauteng North Athletics, Glenrose Xaba, finished 16th in a personal best of 1:09:26. Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya took the win in 1:05:16, setting a world record in a women’s only race.
“Given the background of their preparations, we are very grateful for the achieved performances from all our athletes,” said Aleck Skhosana, the President of Athletics South Africa.
For more information World Half-Marathon Championships, visit the World Athletics website by clicking here.
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