Zimbabwean Mike Fokoroni claimed victory in the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in 3:13:36 in Cape Town on Saturday.
And it was a Zimbabwe 1-2 finish as Collen Makaza took second place in a time of 3:14:48.
Defending champion Mabhutile Lebopo of Lesotho finished third in 3:16:25.
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.
South Africa ultra-running sensation Caroline Wostmann defended her Two Oceans Marathon title in a time of 3:44:44 in Cape Town on Saturday.
Despite claiming, as she did in 2015, that she would be taking the race as a training run Wostmann powered her way to victory in the final few kilometres to put yet another exclamation mark down behind her domination in women’s ultra-distance running in South Africa.
Though Tanith Maxwell had recovered from her struggles during the latter stages of the race, her strong finish was not enough to stop the historic run of Wostmann who flew past with the finish line nearing.
Just over the 3:20 mark, Maxwell regained her lead over a slowing Bosho
Maxwell clocked a time of 3:45:55, just over a minute behind the winning time. In third was Ethiopian Amelework Fikadu some way behind in 3:47:40.
Wostmann, defending Comrades Marathon champion, also closed out a brilliant month of running as she won the Om die Dam Ultra Marathon on March 12. It means Wostmann holds the three major Ultra marathon titles in South Africa, including the defence of her Two Oceans title.
One of the other major stories in the women’s race, was the performance of SA-born American Colleen de Reuck who at 51 years of age set a new record in the master’s division with her time of 3:53:07 as she also claimed fifth place overall.
Earlier, Maxwell charged through halfway in 1:49:06, over two minutes ahead of Fikadu.
Maxwell lost her lead to Fikadu over the next 60 minutes, as the three-hour mark approached. While the lead changed hands upfront, defending champion Caroline Wostmann and Charne Bosman were closing the gap on the top two.
Up Constantia Nek, Wostmann moved ahead of Bosman as it began to look like a repeat victory was on the cards.
Just over the 3:20 mark, Maxwell regained her lead over a slowing Bosho. But just behind was Wostmann who was charging through.
And in the final few kilometres, it was all Wostmann as she broke out of training mode and raced to the finish for another breathtaking victory on her growing list of titles.
