Van Zyl overcomes toilet ‘hiccup’ to triumph in Soweto
JOHANNESBURG: Irvette van Zyl finally broke the foreign stranglehold on the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon, becoming the first South African female since 2009 to win the race.
The Olympic marathoner upgraded her bronze medal from last year for gold in a time of 2:41.06.
René Kalmer was the last local women to win the gruelling race through the famous township.
The men’s title remained in foreign hands with Tsepo Mathibele of Lesotho taking the spoils in 2:19.41.
Mathibele held off a challenge from Ethiopean Sintayehu Legese Yinesu, who was bidding for his fourth consecutive title.
Ntsindiso Mphakathi was the first local athlete to cross the line, finishing third in 2:21.23.
Local favourite Mapaseka Makhanya, racing in her home town for the first time, finished second behind Van Zyl. She crossing the line in a time 2:44.37 with defending champion Selam Abere Alebachew of Ethiopia finishing third in 2:46.33.
A large lead group in the men’s race went through the halfway mark before the top three broke away.
With the route offering little relief with the undulating course and minimal protection from the sun, the final kilometres separating the wheat from the chaff.
Mathibele dropped Yinesu and Mphakathi at the 30-kilometre mark and held onto pole position to claim the victory.
In the women’s race, Makhanya took an early lead with Alebachew going with her.
Van Zyl worked herself into a strong position after moving past Makhanya but saw her advantage slip when she had to stop for a bathroom break at the 29km mark, slipping back to third place.
Van Zyl first caught up with Alebachew before moving past Makhanya with eight kilometres remaining.
“I didn’t expect to win today, although I wanted to, but I felt it was out of reach and I had a hiccup going to the toilet,” Van Zyl said.
“When I caught Alebachew I could see Mapa (Makhanya) far ahead and I told myself ‘second is good enough’.
“This meant a lot, it was my third time lining up for this race, the first time in 2011 I fell and finished in a taxi and last year I had a bit of an injury problem.”
For Makhanya it was a homecoming of sorts, relying heavily on local support.
“I wish I had never avoided this race, the support along the route was amazing, I’ve never experienced so much support,” Makhanya said.
“I’ve always wanted to tick it off my bucket list, I am very happy with it being my first Soweto Marathon and finishing second.”
Van Zyl said the long wait for a local victory was made even sweeter with the two women sharing the podium.
“I thought if came second today at least Mapa would be the first South African,” Van Zyl said.