All eyes on ASA Marathon Championships

DURBAN - With the domestic athletics season gaining early momentum, all eyes will be on the ASA Marathon Championships this weekend, with the men’s race promising to be a thrilling battle between world-class athletes possessing varied combinations of strength and speed.

The national championships, which will be incorporated into the Durban International Marathon, will be held on Sunday. The men’s event will have a quality domestic lineup competing for the national title, with some very promising marathon runners looking to establish themselves even further than they already have over the classic 42.2km distance.

Ability

Tumelo Motlagale (Athletics Central North West) Previously a dominant force on the track, Motlagale’s ability in the challenging 3 000m steeplechase event has always shown how strong he is, but his real talent has emerged since he made a permanent move to the road.

In 2021, he set a personal best of 1:02:22 in the half-marathon, indicating his potential over the 42.2km distance, but his crowning achievement thus far in his career came

last season when he clocked 2:11:15 to win the ASA title. As the defending champion, any of his opponents would be careless to ignore him at the starting line and if they do, they might regret it by the time they reach the finish.

Siboniso Sikhakhane (KwaZulu-Natal Athletics) Packed with power, Sikhakhane has the strength and endurance to make any field shake with fear in his presence. Boasting an impressive marathon personal best of 2:11:49, set at the 2021 Cape Town Marathon in 2021, he has the speed and experience to put up a fight against his esteemed compatriots. Even more intimidating, however, is the strength he has displayed in his career.