Soweto Marathon lives up to expectations
Sintayenu Yineso from Ethopia won the Soweto Marathon for the second time while Harriet Chebore won women’s race.
The Soweto Marathon defending champion, Sintayehu Yinesu from Ethiopia won the race for the second time crossing the 42.2 km finish line in a time of 02:23:20.
Zimbabwean athlete, Mike Fokoroni took second place followed by John Kirui from Kenya.
About 19 000 runners took part in the marathon which took place on Sunday.
The race started and finished at the Expo Centre in Johannesburg (NASREC), connecting runners to six significant heritage sites dotted along the 42.2km marathon route including Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Walter Sisulu Square, Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Morris Isaacson High School, Vilakazi Street and Hector Pieterson Memorial.
Yenesu said he feels blessed to have been given the opportunity by Old Mutual, Soweto Marathon and the support from Nedbank Sport Athlete Development Initiative through their development of Ethiopian and South African runners.
He said without their support it would not have been possible for him to defend his title and take the first prize for a second year running.
In the women’s race, Kenyan Harriet Jepchumba Chebore led the 42.2 km in a time of 02:50:15.
The second place went to Fikadu Boshon and in third place, Selam Alebachew from Ethiopia.
Yinesu and Chebore each took home R200 000 for winning.
Akopo Africa showed fine form winning the women’s 21km race while Elroy Gelant took the honours in the men’s race.
In the 10km race, Lucky Nkasi won the men’s event while Rutendo Nyahora took the women’s title.
