MEC TLHAPI LAUDS MOKOKA FOR CAPE TOWN MARATHON VICTORY

MEC TLHAPI LAUDS MOKOKA FOR CAPE TOWN MARATHON VICTORY

By Vusi Kama

KING OF CAPE TOWN: Mahikeng-born Stephen Mokoka has once again won the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. Photo credit: Chris Hitchcock 

North West Province Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation (Acsr) MEC Mme Virginia Tlhapi has congratulated local long distance sensation Stephen “Tshipi’’ Mokoka on his top finish in the 2021 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon title recently.

The Mafikeng-born runner romped home with the R200 000 prize money, after breaking away to lead the star-studded pack of international competitors from just before the 40km mark. At the finish line, the pride of South African road running had clocked 02:10.01, being the only Mzantsi runner in the top five.

Mokoka still holds the current course record with his 2018 win in the same race (02:08.31).

“This is an incredible achievement for a lad from Ramatlabama,’’ said Mme Tlhapi. “Over the years, Tshipi has been doing well in athletics and is a good example to our youth in the Province, especially the rural boys and girls. His win is not only for him and his family, but for all of us in the Province. As a Department, we will be in touch with him with a view to gather and celebrate him officially.

‘’The first prize for us is that our youth should draw inspiration from Tshipi’s success, and realise that there is huge room for participation and excellence in all sport codes. They must see him as an example of what can be achieved.’’

By winning the 2021 edition of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Mokoka has raised the stakes, following his 2018 win in the same marathon. By all accounts, he has proven to be an asset in South African athletics.

Earlier in the year, he was one of the South African athletes who were tipped to win a medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games. Unfortunately, he had to drop out of the race at around 35 km, clutching his stomach in agony.

However, the man has a pedigree to be proud of. Experts agree that he will go down in history as one of South Africa’s best middle and long distance athletes. In a career spanning 18 years, he has won 25 national titles and represented his country 35 times.

Mokoka is an incredibly versatile athlete, with titles and good performances on the road, track and in cross country. He is the only South African to have broken 60 minutes in the half marathon on a legal course when he ran 59.51 in Beunos Aires in 2019, before bettering that with 59.36 in 2020.

On five occasions, he represented South Africa at the World Half Marathon Championships, finishing in the top 10 on three occasions.