MBABANE – Eswatini’s Ntokozo Nkonyane claimed silver in the 42km race at the Kaapsehoop 4-in-1 Marathon in South Africa on Saturday.
The promising long-distance runner produced an impressive performance, clocking 02:17:03 to finish second in a tightly contested race in Mbombela.
Nkonyane narrowly missed out on the top prize by just six seconds, with South African athlete Pule Sibeko winning in 02:16:57.
The race delivered a thrilling finish, as the two athletes battled for honours over the gruelling 42km distance. Sibeko eventually took gold, while Nkonyane settled for silver. Msawenkosi Mthalane completed the men’s podium in 02:18:29.
Nkonyane, an athlete with EUDF, was among three Eswatini runners who featured in the marathon’s flagship event.
Compatriot Bongani Jele also produced a strong showing, finishing ninth overall in 02:23:30, while Thokozani TK Dlamini crossed the line in 02:38:17 to finish 35th.
Jele’s performance placed him among the top 10 finishers in a competitive field, while Dlamini also completed the demanding course.
The Kaapsehoop 4-in-1 Marathon, organised by the Nelspruit Marathon Club, featured four race categories, namely the 42km marathon, 21.1km half-marathon, 10km and 4.9km fun run.
The flagship marathon started at Kaapsehoop and finished at Mbombela Stadium, attracting athletes seeking to test themselves over one of the region’s challenging road-running courses.
Nkonyane’s runner-up finish provided a notable result for Eswatini athletics, as the country’s distance runners continue to compete on the South African road-running circuit.
