International Runners Sweep Men’s and Women’s Titles at 2025 Soweto Marathon

• Foreigners have taken both men's and women's categories at the 2025 Soweto Marathon in Johannesburg
• The marathon event happened in wet weather, with a former national record holder being the first South African to finish the race
• The national record holder was making his debut at the Soweto marathon after previously reclaiming her Comrades and Two Oceans ultra-marathon titles

The annual Soweto Marathon saw foreign athletes dominate, capturing the top spots in the men’s and women’s races despite the wet weather.

The event started and finished at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec, on Saturday, November 29, 2025.

The race took place after the cancellation of the Cape Town Marathon, for which African Bank found a way to step in with a gesture to support the affected athletes.

Foreign athletes dominate 2025 Soweto Marathon

Lesotho’s Joseph Seutloali and Kenya’s Margaret Jepchumba emerged as champions in the men's and women's races, respectively, at this year’s Soweto Marathon.

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For most of the men’s race, Mosotho runner Jobo Khatoane set the pace. Still, with only a few kilometres left, he was overtaken by a trio consisting of Seutloali, former champion Ntsindiso Mphakathi, and defending titleholder Onalenna Khonkhobe.

Seutloali, who was chased down by Khonkhobe late in last year’s edition, pulled away in the final stretch to win the 42km race in 2:20:09, adding the Soweto title to his Two Oceans ultra-marathon victory earlier this year.

Mphakathi, the 2023 Soweto champion, finished second with a time of 2:20:24, just 15 seconds behind, while Khonkhobe secured third place with a time of 2:20:39.

In the women’s event, Jepchumba ran alongside Zambia’s Elizabeth Mokoloma for the majority of the race before pulling away in the final stretch to claim victory in 2:34:33.

Mokoloma secured the runner-up spot with a time of 2:35:59, while former national record holder Gerda Steyn was the first South African to cross the line, earning third place with a time of 2:37:00 on her Soweto Marathon debut.

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Steyn said she was overwhelmed by the experience and described it as a wonderful race, noting that she had already retained her Comrades and Two Oceans ultra-marathon titles earlier in the year.

She added that she enjoyed the race from start to finish and felt it lived up to its reputation. Since she had never competed there before, she said she was satisfied with her result and considered it a great way to end the year.

Mpumalanga marathon winner yet to receive prize money

Briefly News also reported that the 2024 Mpumalanga Marathon, one of South Africa’s richest road races, was at the centre of controversy after the men’s winner, Lesotho’s Jobo Khatoane, had yet to receive his prize money.

The race offered more than any other marathon in the country, surpassing even the Comrades Marathon payout won by Gerda Steyn, who received R870,000 in May 2025.

Source: Briefly News