Fokorani wins Two Oceans Ultra Marathon

CAPE TOWN — Zimbabwean Mike Fokoroni won the men’s Two Oceans Ultra Marathon here yesterday in a time of 3 hours 13 minutes and 33 seconds beating out his home boy Collen Makaza (3:14,45) with Motlokoa Nkhabutlane of Lesotho finishing third on 3:16,22.

The day started out overcast and rainy, and in the end Fokoroni’s had the slowest winning time in 22 years in the event.

Ludwick Mamabolo, 2012 Comrades Marathon champion, was the first South African across the line in sixth place in 3:17:55.

Earlier, Gert Thys went through the halfway stage at 28km holding the lead in 1:33:58, with Mamabolo less than a minute behind. Within three minutes of the lead were a number of chasers, including a large bunch of around eight runners all in with a shout of closing down the front runners.

Just over 20 minutes later around Chapmans Peak, Mamabolo surged past a tiring 44-year-old Thys to claim the lead.

At the 2:10 mark, Mamabolo was then caught by a chasing pack of five athletes. And he had nothing left in the tank, as he eventually had to settle for sixth.

Forokoni came in with what could be his best win in his career as he was rank outsider to win the race that had over 11 000 runners.

The Bindura-based runner said his initial target had been the top three and top five but he realised the race can be won at the 42km peg as other athletes didn’t pull up. Speaking via a video link on the Two Oceans’ Facebook page, Fokoroni said it occurred to him that the race can be won when he reached the 45km peg and he urged his teammate to open a gap.

“When I started the race I was a bit slower but stayed with the leading pack but when I reached the halfway mark I just thought the day could be ours we kept pushing. I knew the other athletes are stronger than me and have the potential to come from behind.

“I was shoulder to shoulder with my teammate Makaza and I told them we should go and when we reached the 45km point, I realised I can win it and kept on pushing until the finish line,” said Fokoroni.

Lesotho’s Nkhabutlane and Moeketsi Mosuhli, 25-year-old Ethiopian Mohammed Hussein had all been tagged as favourites before the race with Makaza, who was last year’s runner up among those tipped to come first.

In the women’s race, defending champion, Caroline Wostmann retained her title.

Fokoroni, who has a personal best time of 2:15:12 (Cape Town Marathon 2009), last managed sixth place (3:16:55) at the Two Oceans, which had been his highest position since running the race in 2010.

Last year he took a credible second position in the Soweto Marathon in a time of 2:24:12, a performance that set the pace for him winning yesterday.

Makaza, who is contracted to the Toyota Running Club, is a record holder of Comrades marathon half way 45km and Chatsworth marathon record holder 50km and the east London legends marathon 68km.

The 34-year-old runner is one of the top performers in the long distance scene and won the Legends Marathon in 2013 and World Champs 50km, Galway, Ireland in 2010. The prize money, according to the event’s website for the winners were pegged at R250 000 and R125 000 for position two.

The awards were to be given after doping results. — Sports Reporter/Online.