Local athletics star Stephen Mokoka successfully defended his South African half marathon title on Saturday at the ASA Half-Marathon Championships in Port Elizabeth.

Mokoka, representing Athletics Gauteng North, won a fast men’s race in 1:01:44, edging out international competition in the form of Benard Bil by two seconds.

Another international visitor, Linus Ruto, finished third in the open race, another two seconds further back.

Elroy Gelant (1:01:48) of Athletics Central North West and Gladwin Mzazi (1:01:49) of Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) were fourth and fifth respectively, securing silver and bronze in the national championship contest.

Foreign athletes dominated the women’s race, with Mamorallo Tjoka of Lesotho taking the win in 1:10:46, more than a minute ahead of her nearest opponent. In her wake, Tjoka also became the new Southern Region champion.

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