In an exclusive interview with Newsday Sports, Tebello Ramakongoana has opened up about the emotional and physical challenges he faced during the recent 129th edition of the Boston Marathon, held in the United States.
Ramakongoana secured an impressive eighth-place finish, clocking a time of 2:07:19 hours in a field of more than 30,000 participants, including over 16,000 elite male runners on Monday this week.
The race was won by Kenya’s John Korir, who crossed the line in blistering 2:04:45 hours.
This performance marks a historic milestone, as the 28-year-old from Qacha’s Nek becomes the first-ever athlete from Lesotho to compete in the Boston Marathon, recognised as the world’s oldest and one of the most lucrative marathons.
“It was a tough day. I tried my best to stay amongst the leading pack, but my body did not respond well,” he said.
“At some point, I even thought of dropping out, but remembered that I am the breadwinner of my family, and then kept on fighting.”
His coach, James McKirdy, based in the United States, lauded the runner’s determination and endurance.
McKirdy revealed that Ramakongoana was the only athlete in the top ten who had also competed in a full marathon just three months prior, the Xiamen Marathon in China.
“He is learning in every marathon he does. By no means was this a failure; it is very successful. But we can always hope for more,” said McKirdy, praising his protégé’s resilience and progress.
For his outstanding effort, Ramakongoana earned approximately M168,000 in prize money, a reward that underscores his rising stature on the global athletics stage.
He is now set to enter a well-earned recovery phase, as his team regroups and maps out plans for future competitions.
This latest accomplishment adds another chapter to Ramakongoana’s impressive journey. In August 2022, he made history by finishing fourth at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, a first for Lesotho.
Last year, he followed that up with a seventh-place finish at the Paris Olympic Games, where he set a new national record.
As he continues to raise Lesotho’s profile on the world stage, Ramakongoana is fast cementing his legacy as a symbol of national pride and sporting excellence.
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.
