Seabata Mahao
Lesotho’s seasoned marathoner, Jobo Khatoane, has secured a historic victory by winning M1 million after conquering the recent 42.2 kilometer Mpumalanga Standard Marathon.
Dubbed the One Million Race, the event saw Khatoane cross the finish line in 2:18:03 hours, and marked a significant milestone as the first marathon on the continent where the winner becomes a millionaire.
Khatoane fended off stiff competition from the likes of the two-time Cape Town Marathon winner, Asefa Mengstu Negewo of Ethiopia, the 2022 Two Oceans Marathon runner-up, Nkosikhona Mhlakwana, and a host of other elite athletes who tackled the challenging 42.2km route through Nelspruit, from Dayizenza to Riverside Mall in Mbombela.
But in the end it was Khatoane who prevailed and secured the record-setting M1 million prize. Following his sensational victory, Khatoane expressed gratitude and shared his initial apprehension about the race.
“With the big prize money on offer and all the top runners present, I was nervous at the start and ran the first 10 km quite conservatively,” he said.
“But then I caught up with Bong’musa Mthembu at the 10 km mark. He shouted at me to stop jogging and start running, telling me not to wait for the East Africans because they would outsprint me at the end. I took his advice, and Lucky Mohale kept up with me until I dropped him on a hill around the 13 km mark,” Khatoane recounted.
He credited his coach, Martin Ngwenya, for crafting a robust strategy and an intense training regimen.
“I feel so happy because this is my first major win since I started working with Ngwenya. Although I initially struggled with his program two years ago, my body has now adapted well. I was confident after leading the Comrades Marathon to the halfway point earlier this year.”
“I knew that a 42km race is shorter than reaching the halfway mark at the Comrades, and the Comrades course is much tougher. I also love hilly courses. Tough races are where my muscles thrive. I am thrilled to be the first African to win a million,” he explained.
After securing such a significant prize, most athletes would rest for the remainder of the year. But Khatoane has more ambitions for 2024. The African Bank Soweto Marathon, traditionally dominated by Lesotho runners, holds a special place in his heart. Having finished seventh in 2022 and fifth last year, Khatoane feels he has unfinished business with the race.
Despite his newfound millionaire status, Khatoane remains determined to compete in more races in 2024.
Meanwhile, in the same marathon, Khatoane’s compatriot, Lekhotla Pulinyana, also achieved an impressive fourth-place finish, clocking in at 2:21:16 and earning M50, 000 in the process.