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Pretoria, South Africa \u2014 THE African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 ‘s efforts to revive the regional marathon got off on a positive note yesterday, with thousands of participants turning up for the event at the Union Buildings.<\/p>\n
Namibia’s Daniel Paulus and Irvette Van Zyl were top in the main event of the day, the 21km open category.<\/p>\n
The day got off with some light showers just as athletes were about to line up for the start of the 21km and 10km races.<\/p>\n
But the athletes were ready to give it their all, and Paulus took the lead at the 6km peg and never looked back.<\/p>\n
\n He was victorious, clocking 1 hour 4 minutes 12 seconds.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “The race was very tough. But the weather, very nice, and it was fine. I am happy I won the race, I surprised myself out there because this is my first time competing in this Region 5 event,” said Paulus.<\/p>\n South Africa’s Onalenna Khonkhobe was second with a time of 1 hour 4 minutes 25 seconds.<\/p>\n Eric Ngeno from Kenya was third in 1 hour 4 minutes, 25 seconds.<\/p>\n In the women’s category, Van Zyl, a seasoned South African runner, gave a good account of herself to be crowned winner when clocking 1 hour 14 minutes 55 seconds.<\/p>\n “It was a great race today for me. I didn’t expect to come and win, but I came in lined up because I have got nothing to lose. I am still coming back from my opening three weeks ago, so I just wanted to come top five and just have a good run.<\/p>\n “It brings the next level of competition out of you. Today, I didn’t think I was in a sub-75 shape, but the competition brought that out of me.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “So it’s really great competition to be part of, or a great race to be part of,” said Van Zyl.<\/p>\n Mildred Chepkemei Kinyanja came second in 1 hour 15 minutes 26 seconds, and Lavinia Haitope from Namibia clocked 1 hour 15 minutes 31 seconds to complete the top three.<\/p>\n Haitope said it was a tough outing, but coming third was encouraging as she concludes her 2025 sea-son.<\/p>\n “Coming here, I told myself, as long as I am in the top eight, it’s fine. But it’s good for me that I came in number three,” said Haitope.<\/p>\n For winning the 21km, both Paulus and Van Zyl pocketed R50 000 each.<\/p>\n Stephen Mokoka clinched the men’s 10km in 30 minutes 6 seconds.<\/p>\n Ncenga Nose and Pontsho Motaung were second and third in 30 minutes 10 seconds and 30 minutes 20 seconds, respectively.<\/p>\n The women’s category was won by Karabo Mailula in 34 minutes 52 seconds. Maria Kanyangela was second in 36 minutes and 31 seconds.<\/p>\n
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