William Kaptein celebrates after winning the Two Oceans half-marathon.
Image: @2OceansMarathon / X
Local runner William Kaptein became the first Capetonian to win the Totalsports Two Oceans half-marathon since 1998 when he sailed to victory on Sunday
The 32-year-old TymeBank Langa runner stormed to victory over the 20.6 km course - the route was shortened by 500m because of the hot conditions in the Mother City - in a time of 01:04:41. Makhosonke Fika was the last Cape Town resident to win the race 33 years ago.
The women’s race was won by one of the pre-race favourites Mercy Jebet Kibor (Joma Sport), who crossed the finish line in a time of 01:17:06.
Kaptein took the race by the scruff of the neck from the start despite the warm conditions. And he would not be denied the victory, despite national half-marathon champion Bennett Seloyi finishing the race strongly.
“I knew I was going to win the race, but just did not know how. I gave it my all,” Kaptein said after the race, backing himself to go the distance after going out quite fast at the start of the race.
Seloyi finished second behind Kaptein, while Lesotho’s Namakoe Nhasi was third.
Kibor, running her first Two Oceans half-marathon, finished over two minutes ahead of the second-placed finisher Nthabiseng Letokoto. South Africa’s Busisiwe Chamane was third.
On Saturday, in the ultra-marathon, Khoarahlane Seutloali pulled off a stunning victory, with the Hollywood Athletics Club runner clocking a winning time of 3:10:46.
The queen of distance running in South Africa, Gerda Steyn, once again obliterated the women’s field to win the race a sixth successive time in 3:29:11.
@JohnGoliath82