FILE PICTURE: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 30, Johannes Kekana during the Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon on March 30, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by ImageSA / Gallo Images
“I aim to win the race and have prepared well for it. The rest will happen on the race day,” Kekana said on Friday, after winning last year’s race in two hours, 50 minutes, 39 seconds (2:50:39).
“There is some pressure coming in as a defending champion, but I won’t let that get to me.” Kekana, who finished fifth in this year’s Comrades Marathon, headed into the race as the favourite, but would need to overcome a strong field which included Herman Mokgadi, Odwa Tunyiswa, Charles Tjiene.
“As a team, we are well-prepared because we took part in a five week training camp. I feel we are all ready but if things don’t go my way on Sunday, then maybe the title will go to one of my team-mates,” said the Bonitas Athletics Club athlete.
“Most of the top runners in the race are my team-mates and I’m familiar with their style, so I think my main competition will come from other teams because I don’t know how they’ve prepared and how things will go.
“But one thing for sure is that I’m not giving this title away and will do my best to retain it.” The seasoned runner said he would draw on his experience from the Comrades to ensure he achieved his goal.
“Taking part in the 2012 Comrades helped a lot in terms of my performance at last year’s City to City. “Running the Comrades gives me the courage to win the ultra distances which are less than 50km’s.
“I believe things will be the same this year and I will draw from my Comrades experience as well as the training camp we had.”
Meanwhile, Tunyiswa, who had battled with a hip injury since March, said he planned to steal the limelight from Kekana by reclaiming the title he held in 2011.
“I’m going for a win and nothing else,” said Tunyiswa. “I have been injured for a while but I feel I have recovered well. The training has gone well and now I’m just waiting for Sunday.
“I have not produced any results this year and a win will motivate me ahead of the Two Oceans Marathon, which is my main focus for next year.”
In the women’s race, defending champion Tshifhiwa Mundalamo would be back to defend her title and faced a stiff challenge from Lizih Chokore and Charne Bosman, who finished second in this year’s Two Ocean Marathon.
The event also included a half-marathon and a 10km run.
– Sapa
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