Police officer and trail runner Constable Kennedy Sekhuthe emerged victorious at the Salt Pan Ultra Marathon in Botswana on Saturday, September 26.

Known as one of the world’s toughest flat ultra-marathon routes, the race tested Sekhuthe’s physical and mental strength as he completed the gruelling distance in 24:33:00 to finish first overall.

The victory adds another achievement to an already impressive record at the event. In 2025, Sekhuthe won the 100km category and broke the race’s four-year record.

However, his latest triumph comes after a challenging year of running. Sekhuthe was forced to withdraw from this year’s Ultra-trail Drakensberg (UTD Miler) race after suffering cramps and nausea.

This followed a strong 2025 season in which he won the UTD Miler and a 2024 campaign where he finished among the top five in the 100km race.

“Placing first in the race after a hard year of running makes me feel extremely happy, proud and motivated. It shows that my hard work, dedication and perseverance have paid off,” said Sekhuthe.

“I feel grateful for how far I’ve come, and this achievement inspires me to keep working hard and reach even greater goals.”

The 160km race was far from easy, with Sekhuthe facing physical exhaustion, muscle fatigue, the relentless flat terrain and moments of self-doubt.

“There were times when I felt like giving up, but I reminded myself of all the hard work and sacrifices I had made during training. I stayed focused, took it one step at a time and kept pushing forward until I crossed the finish line,” he said.

“I told myself, ‘I’m going to conquer this and take the trophy home’, the same way I did last year in the 100km at the same race.”

Sekhuthe said preparing for an ultra-marathon requires consistency, discipline and determination.

His training involved gradually building his endurance, running on different trails, improving his strength and allowing enough time for rest and recovery. He also placed a strong emphasis on mental preparation, hydration and nutrition.

Despite the tough competition, Sekhuthe said he remained focused on his own race rather than becoming distracted by the other athletes.

“I respect every athlete who lines up for the race because they eventually trained for it. The competition was tough, and I knew I had to give my best throughout the race,” he said.

“I was focused on finishing strong rather than worrying too much about the other runners. I hoped to finish on the podium, but I didn’t want to take anything for granted.”

With another ultra-marathon victory under his belt, Sekhuthe is already looking ahead to his next challenge.

His next goal is South Africa’s Skyrun 100km, a self-navigation ultra-marathon that will once again test his endurance, navigation skills and mental strength.