Long distance star, Khoarahlane Seutloali, who recently pulled off a sensational victory at the Two Oceans Marathon in South Africa, described the win as a culmination of years of hard work.
Seutloali clinched the prestigious Two Oceans title on April 5, completing the grueling 56-kilometre ultramarathon in 3:10:46.
The win earned him a gold medal and a hefty M25,000 cash prize. His victory marks a major milestone for Lesotho, as he became the first athlete from the country to win the race since 2015.
Representing the Hollywood Athletics Club based in South Africa, Seutloali surged to the front in the final kilometres of the race, maintaining a strong and consistent pace throughout.
He crossed the finish line ahead of a competitive field, improving on his 8th-place finish last year and delivering a thrilling sprint finish that left the crowd in awe.
His triumph ended a decade-long drought for Lesotho in the event, with the last victory coming in 2015 through Motlokoa Nkhabutlane. The win also comes 11 years after Lebenya Nkoka claimed the title for the Mountain Kingdom.
In an exclusive interview with Newsday Sports, Seutloali, who has previously represented Lesotho at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the men’s marathon, shared his pride in the achievement.
“I am happy all the hard work that I have been putting in has finally paid off,” he said.
Looking ahead, Seutloali confirmed his participation in the upcoming 2025 Soweto Marathon, scheduled for later in the year in November.
“While I wait for this marathon, I will be taking part in some of the local marathons as part of my practice and preparation for Soweto Marathon”.
He also emphasised the significance of competing under the Hollywood Athletics Club banner.
“We go harder on prominent international marathons as they give us much exposure and experience to participate in global competitions. The local domestic marathons assist us in our preparations for the international marathons,” Seutloali explained.
Trailing Seutloali in the Two Oceans Marathon was South Africa’s Sboniso Sikhakhane, who came in second with a time of 3:11:17. Fellow South African Lucky Mohale secured third place in 3:11:26.
In the women’s race, South Africa’s Gerda Steyn secured her sixth Two Oceans title, clocking 3:29:09 — a remarkable performance that also set a new course record. Lesotho’s ‘Neheng Khatala finished third, earning a bronze medal and M65,000 in prize money.
Seutloali and Khatala, both under the guidance of coach Andrew Booyens, have once again affirmed their status as elite long-distance runners in the region.
Lesotho also had a strong showing in the men’s category, with Lebello Mopenyane finishing 6th in 3:12:45, followed closely by Lebenya Nkoka (7th in 3:13:07) and Lekhotla Pulinyana (8th in 3:13:41).
The Prize money for the top 10 Lesotho finishers included M25,000, M15,000, M14,000, and M13,000 respectively.
Other notable Lesotho participants included Tšepo Mathibelle (12th), Teboho Sello (17th), Tšepo Francis Ramashamole (20th), Mohau Masoenyane (23rd), Thabo Domenic Moitšepi (24th), and Teboho Noosi (26th).
Meanwhile, in the half marathon event, Namakoe Nkhasi delivered a strong performance, finishing third in the 21.1 km race.
The Two Oceans Marathon, often dubbed “the world’s most beautiful marathon,” is held annually in Cape Town, South Africa. It features a 56 km ultra marathon and a 21.1 km half marathon, typically run in early April. The ultra marathon takes place on Saturday, followed by the half marathon on Sunday.
The race attracts thousands of runners from across the globe. Since its inception in 1970, the event has grown significantly, with the half marathon now drawing around 16,000 participants and the ultra marathon hosting approximately 11,000 athletes.
Both races begin in Newlands, with the ultra marathon route winding through Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, Chapman’s Peak, Hout Bay, and Constantia Nek, before finishing at the University of Cape Town. The half marathon follows a scenic route along Edinburgh Drive and through the forested areas around Kirstenbosch, also concluding at UCT.
The men’s course record of 3:03:44 was set by Thompson Magawana in 1988, while Steyn’s 2024 run of 3:26:54 is now the fastest women’s time in the event’s history.
With momentum on his side, all eyes will be on Seutloali as he gears up for Soweto, a race that could further define his legacy in African long-distance running.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports.
Started working at Newsday in 2021.
has an Associate Degree in Journalism and Media.
