Mapaseka’s emotional Soweto race
Makhanya dedicates medal to injured young brother
Running the Soweto Marathon had been a long-held dream for Mapaseka Makhanya but she never imagined it would turn into such an emotional 42km when she eventually made her debut in the popular kasi race and took second place yesterday.
Makhanya, 32, finished in two hours, 44 minutes behind compatriot Irvette van Zyl for a South African 1-2 – a rare double victory. It was also the first time in eight years that a local woman won since René Kalmer’s victory in 2009.
On a more personal note, Makhanya dedicated her medal – which came with a R120 000 runner-up purse – to her younger brother, 26, who is recovering from a car accident.
“My little brother was involved in a very bad car accident on September 22 and I passed through the spot where their car rolled over on Koma Road in Molapo,” said Makhanya, who was born in Naledi.
“I have never been at the accident scene before and, today [yesterday] through the race, brought so much emotions in me and I was doing it for him,” she added.
Makhanya lost five weeks of training time owing to hospital visits.
That her mom was among the cheerleaders alongside the street made it even more soulstirring. She also paid tribute to the residents, saying they pushed her over the line.
“My mom was in Jabulani and she screamed at me as I passed through. She has never watched me race live before. I had goose bumps because people were shouting my name along the streets. People took me through the marathon and if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have finished second.”
Makhanya could have won it but her lack of fitness saw her lose to Van Zyl.
“It was about time we reclaim victory in our own race. Soweto Marathon is an iconic race and I’m so proud of Irvette,” said Makhanya, who turned down an invitation to run the Shanghai Marathon in China on Sunday in favour of her hometown race.
When Ntsindiso Mphakathi left his home in Port St Johns, Eastern Cape, for Johannesburg in 2003, little did he know that he would one day make history at the Soweto Marathon.
Mphakathi, 27, was the first South African over the line in the popular township race yesterday.
His third-place finish was the closest a local runner had come to ending a four-year foreign stranglehold on the Soweto race.
Though Mphakathi made the country proud, the men’s title went to Tshepo Mathibelle of Lesotho (2:19:41), who beat defending champion Sintayehu Yinesu to the R220 000 first prize.
“My relocation to Joburg was about schooling. I only developed interest in running four years ago,” said Mphakathi, who lives with a relative in Dube, Soweto.
Yesterday’s race was just the second time he had entered the 42km in the Soweto Marathon, having previously finished as the first South African in ninth place in 2014.
“My goal was just to make a top 10 but it helped to stick with the leading pack because I was only stopped by cramps at the 37km mark,” said the eldest of eight children, whose other major victory was his win at the Heroes Marathon two years ago.
Mphakathi, who is trained by 2013 Comrades Marathon champion Claude Moshiywa, conceded that the Soweto full marathon was one of the toughest.
“I mostly entered the 10km and my best position was fourth last year.”
Mphakathi received R90 000 for his third-place finish and he said the prize will go a long way, since he is one of the two breadwinners in his extended family.
Meanwhile, Irvette van Zyl became the first local woman winner in eight years with her victory in the women’s 42km contest, while Mapaseka Makhanya came second.