MBABANE – Nongcebo Mathabela and Sipho Mamba dominated KwaMagogo 2025 Legacy Run 21km.
The 14th edition of the KwaMagogo Legacy Run, held yesterday at Pendray Park, Trelawney Park in Manzini, saw Nongcebo Mathabela and Sipho Mamba claim victory in the 21km categories, each pocketing E3 300.
Over 500 participants took part in the vibrant event, which showcased fierce competition and remarkable performances.
In the women’s category, Mathabela outpaced seasoned Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) runner Samkelisiwe Thwala, who finished fourth.
Mathabela crossed the finish line with a gun time of 1:39:14, though her chip time was a swifter 1:36:37, shaving three minutes off her official record.
Astonishingly, she admitted to being underprepared, having been unwell in the two weeks leading up to the race.
“The race went well, and I faced no challenges on the route despite not training adequately. I hadn’t trained recently because I wasn’t feeling well, but I decided to compete as I’d started preparing earlier,” Mathabela remarked.
Mathabela’s standout achievement was finishing alongside some of the 10km front-runners, creating a significant gap between herself and her closest rivals in the 21km category.
When asked about her goals, she revealed her ambition to take first place despite her limited preparation.
“My aim was to finish first and target a time of around 1:30:00, as I’m preparing for the Imbube Marathon, where I’ll also run the 21km,” she added.
In the men’s race, Sipho Mamba described the course as ‘normal’ and well-suited to his strengths.
Full article available in our paper.
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