Lesotho's Mabuthile Lebopo won the 41st Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon in three hours, six minutes and 18 seconds on Saturday in what proved to be one of the fastest races of recent years in the South African cape province.
With the leaders going through half way in 1 hour and 32 minutes, the probability of a fast time was on the cards, but it all seemed to have been lost when early pacemaker Johannes Kekana, was caught and dropped by the squad of Lesotho athletes that included Teboho Sello, Lebenya Nkoka, Mabuthile Lebopo, and brother Warinyane, as they approached the steep twisting climb out of Hout Bay.
A late charge by Moeketsi Mosuhli, the 2008 Soweto marathon winner, secured the second spot ahead of Sello who filled the final podium place giving Lesotho athletes a clean sweep.
Durban-based Zimbabwean Stephen Muzhingi, overtook the winner's brother, Warinyane, on the field for fourth place.
Olesya Nurgalieva from Russia took the honours in three hours 41 minutes and 52 seconds with her twin sister Elena settling for second spot just over 100 metres adrift.
South African Adinda Kruger gave an impressive performance in the women's race completing the first half in fifth position and then working her way past Riana van Niekerk, Samukeliso Moyo and Tshifhiwa Mundalamo to finish third in 3:49:23.
Mundalamo hung on well to finish fourth in 3:52:21 While Riana van Niekerk who many expected to lead the South African challenge, never looked comfortable and had to settle for sixth in 3:57:57.
Local athlete Lushapo April, won the half marathon after edging out Zimbabwean Kalvin Pangiso (running for Mr Price) on the run into the University of Cape Town field to take the tape in 1:03:54.
Zimbabwean, Pangiso was only 30 metres adrift at the tape in a race that saw the top six athletes dip under 65 minutes.
Rene Kalmer took the women's race in 1:12:39 with Irvette van Blerk finishing second carving just less than three minutes from her previous personal best.
Lesotho marathoner Mamorallo Tjoka was third with South Africa's Leading marathoner Tanith Maxwell fourth in 1:16:19.
Selected Results
Full Marathon
Top 10 Men
- Mabhutile Lebopo (03:06:18)
- Moeketsi Mosuhli (03:07:29)
- Teboho Sello (03:07:44)
- Stephen Muzhingi (03:10:35)
- Warinyane Lebopo (03:10:51)
- Mike Fokoroni (03:11:38)
- Moses Njodzi (03:12:14)
- Mpesela Ntloseu (03:13:37)
- Nkosiyazi Sibanda (03:15:01)
- Sandile Ngunuza (03:15:42)
Top 10 Women
- Olesya Nurgalieva (03:41:53)
- Elena Nurgalieva (03:42:19)
- Adinda Kruger (03:49:23)
- Tshifhiwa Mundalamo (03:52:21)
- Samukeliso Moyo (03:55:32)
- Riana van Niekerk (03:57:57)
- Joanna Thomas (04:02:08)
- Davera Magson (04:02:43)
- Kerry Koen (04:02:57)
- Mary Coordt (04:04:10)
Two Oceans Half Marathon 2010 Results
Top 10 - Men
- Lusapho April (01:03:54)
- Kalvin Pangiso (01:03:59)
- Tshamano Setone (01:04:13)
- Xolisa Tyali (01:04:20)
- Elmore Sibanda (01:04:36)
- Zolani Ntongana (01:04:43)
- Jeffrey Gwebu (01:06:05)
- Lungisa Mdedelwa (01:06:19)
- Erich Goeieman (01:07:08)
- Jonathan Chinyoka (01:07:18)
Top 10 - Women
- Rene Kalmer (01:12:39)
- Irvette van Blerk (01:12:55)
- Mamorallo Tjoka (01:15:50)
- Tanith Maxwell (01:16:19)
- Thabita Tsatsa (01:17:00)
- Helena Iipinge (01:17:06)
- Rutendo Nyahora (01:19:37)
- Marelize Retief (01:20:04)
- Poppy Mlambo (01:20:36)
- Jenna Challenor (01:21:36)