Lesotho’s fast-rising marathon sensation, Kamohelo Mofolo, has announced himself on the global athletics stage with a remarkable third-place finish at the TCS New York City Marathon in the United States on 1 November 2026.
He clocked 2:06:26 in what was only his second race over the 42.2km distance. But for the 21-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on race day, the result was far more than a podium finish.
It was a statement of Lesotho’s growing strength in international long-distance running, a significant personal milestone, and a ticket to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (LA2028).
The recognition has come quickly. Among the first to congratulate him was the U.S. Embassy in Maseru, which hailed his run in a statement:
“The U.S. Embassy in Maseru congratulates Kamohelo Mofolo on his third-place finish at the 2026 New York City Marathon, one of the most important international marathons. His run time was an impressive 2:06:26, qualifying him for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles!
“Mofolo is trained by American coach James McKirdy. Their partnership demonstrates what Basotho talent and American support can achieve.
“Ntate Mofolo’s performance on the streets of New York will inspire thousands of Basotho and athletes across Africa. Lesotho is proud, and so are we! We look forward to seeing him run in Los Angeles!”
Such early praise reflects the scale of what the young runner has done. Mofolo was competing in his first World Marathon Major (WMM), against some of the world’s leading marathoners, yet he remained competitive throughout, showing composure, tactical awareness and endurance well beyond what his limited marathon experience would suggest.
Behind the historic result was carefully planned preparation and a developing partnership with his United States coach, James McKirdy. Mofolo said his preparation had given him the confidence to compete, although adapting to the busy environment of New York was initially part of the challenge.
He and McKirdy arrived nine days before the race to allow him enough time to adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings. He attributed his confidence to 12 weeks of preparation, adding that Lesotho provided an excellent environment for marathon training.
He acknowledged a minor mistake at his final bottle station, which briefly cost him some ground, but he recovered and stayed in contention. Rather than fading in the closing stages of the demanding course, Mofolo said he felt stronger as the race neared its end.
“My coach tells me never to skip fuel. We work hard in training to do this. So I have a strong mind to push and fuel well. I felt even stronger at the very end. My last kilometre was my best,” he said.
The numbers underline how steep his trajectory has been. Mofolo made his marathon debut at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in May 2026, finishing 11th in 2:08:50, a performance that placed him second on Lesotho’s all-time marathon list at the time. Barely six months later, his New York time improved that mark by more than two minutes.
For a runner who is just 21, with only two marathons behind him, a World Marathon Major podium and an Olympic qualification are extraordinary credentials. The marathon rewards patience and accumulated experience, and Mofolo has barely begun to gather either, which is why his best years appear to lie ahead of him.
One of his most memorable moments was taking the lead during the race to test his competitors, inspired by fellow Lesotho marathoner Tebello Ramakongoana, who had previously taken the initiative in the Sydney Marathon.
“I took the lead in this race to test everyone. I saw Tebello do this in Sydney, and it felt good. Maybe next time I can be first over the finish,” he said.
A 21-year-old who is already talking about winning a World Marathon Major, not merely competing in one, is a young athlete who sees victory as a realistic target and not a distant dream.
Mofolo’s rapid development has come under McKirdy, who has guided his progress for the past two-and-a-half years. The American coach said he recognised the young athlete’s potential early in their working relationship.
“For the last 2.5 years, we have been very deliberate in the path and plan. From the moment I saw his running in a video, early in coaching, I was convinced he would become one of the greatest marathoners, along with Tebello,” McKirdy said.
He also identified Mofolo’s personality, kindness and emotional intelligence as among his strongest qualities, saying they complement the demands of elite marathon training.
“Physically, he’s not different. Emotionally, that’s where he separates himself. He’s incredibly smart and observant, and he knows how to use that skill in the run,” McKirdy explained.
Their partnership is built on patience, communication and learning from every competition, with Mofolo saying his coach has taught him to approach each race differently, sometimes prioritising an aggressive start and at other times exercising patience.
The programme has been carefully structured, and McKirdy explained that training volume and intensity were increased gradually before a full marathon effort in the final 10 weeks of preparation.
McKirdy was confident Mofolo could clock approximately 2:06:30 in New York, and his prediction proved remarkably close when the athlete crossed the line in 2:06:26. For Mofolo, the lessons of each race are what matter most.
“My coach James is patient with me. He teaches me what I need and helps me think differently for each race. Some races we focus on being fast early, and others we focus on running patiently. Every race he says we learn something new. I learnt very much in New York,” he said.
Beyond the podium, perhaps the biggest reward came when Mofolo learnt of his place at LA2028 several hours after the race, after seeing a Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) announcement on Facebook. Uncertain whether it was correct, he immediately contacted his coach to confirm.
“I did not know I qualified for the Olympics until many hours after. I saw the LNOC post on Facebook and asked my coach if it was true or a mistake. I am so happy to qualify. It is my dream to go to the Olympics. I don’t know what I plan yet,” he said.
For McKirdy, it was a moment of immense pride, given the work invested over two-and-a-half years.
“I have immense pride in what he’s accomplished. In just under two years, he will be an Olympian. That’s a treasure,” the coach said.
With the Games still less than two years away, Mofolo is likely to arrive in Los Angeles in his early twenties, with more marathons, more experience and far more room to grow.
Although he is now looking towards the Olympic stage, Mofolo believes his achievement carries a bigger message for Lesotho. He wants to show that athletes from the Mountain Kingdom can compete against the best in the world and challenge for podium positions at the highest level.
“I want to show that we are strong. We can compete with the best in the world. I will go with Tebello and we fight to be on the podium,” he said.
He hopes his success will also encourage aspiring athletes, particularly from communities where access to elite sporting resources remains limited. He also stressed discipline, saying being focused does not necessarily mean competing every weekend, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition, sufficient sleep and good decision-making.
It is this philosophy that informs his concerns about support for athletes in Lesotho. Mofolo believes regular stipends would allow talented runners to concentrate on development without racing constantly just to cover basic living expenses, arguing that doing so undermines recovery, training and the chance to reach full potential.
“We don’t need facilities. We need financial support so we don’t have to race every weekend to pay for food. We can’t develop if we are tired, and too many great runners are forced to race everywhere just to afford food to live. It hurts us,” he said.
He challenged the country’s leadership, athletics authorities, sponsors and the private sector to invest in athletes, arguing that sustained investment could produce even greater success.
“If our leadership can invest in us with stipends, we can see we are the best in the world. Give us eight years and we will win everything,” he said.
McKirdy also cautioned against unrealistic expectations after major achievements, reminding supporters that marathon runners need time to recover and develop.
“Kamohelo will now be ranked as one of the top runners in the world, and I’d imagine his invitations will grow. But the mistake many pundits make is to expect athletes to capture these moments time and time again. We’ve been spoiled with Tebello and now Kamohelo, but please remember, these athletes are humans, not robots,” he said.
The New York City Marathon, one of the world’s most prestigious road races, drew nearly 60,000 runners over a challenging route through all five boroughs, from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island to the finish in Central Park. Mofolo’s third place confirmed that Lesotho belongs among the world’s competitive marathon nations.
Asked what the result meant to him, Mofolo offered a powerful reflection: “It means we are here. We aren’t dreaming anymore. We have become who we are meant to be,” he said.
Summary
- Lesotho’s fast-rising marathon sensation, Kamohelo Mofolo, has announced himself on the global athletics stage with a remarkable third-place finish at the TCS New York City Marathon in the United States on 1 November 2026.
- It was a statement of Lesotho’s growing strength in international long-distance running, a significant personal milestone, and a ticket to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (LA2028).
- One of his most memorable moments was taking the lead during the race to test his competitors, inspired by fellow Lesotho marathoner Tebello Ramakongoana, who had previously taken the initiative in the Sydney Marathon.
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