After 12 years of drought in Soweto Marathon, Nsindiso followed his name, saving South Africa by winning the 28th edition of African Bank Soweto Marathon held at the well known 2010 World Cup stadium, FNB Stadium.
In 2019 prior Covid-19 pandemic, Nsindiso Mphakathi ran an impressive 2:19:5 to finish 8th position overall in the race and he was the sole local runner to make it to the top ten.
The marathon took place on Sunday, the 5th of November 2023 in the well known SOWETO township and Mphakathi put on a brave performance at his home to end the dominance by foreign athletes in the men’s race.
Mphakathi won the African Bank Soweto Marathon with a time of 2:19:13. At the halfway mark, Mphakathi was in position six and put in a hard fight in the second half of the race.
Although, he missed out on the 2:16:28 men’s record that has stood since 2012, Nsindiso Mphakathi, won the race ahead of Ethiopia's Daba Ifa Debele, who finished second in a time of 2:19:52. Third place went to SA's Tonny Skink, who crossed the finish line in a time of 2:20:15.
In the women’s race, Ivette Van Zyl who is currently cruising in the form of her life won the race in a time of 2:34:16.
Before the race, the 36-year-old, who holds the record in the women’s race, had predicted it might be broken in 2023, hence it was not to be.
Van Zyl, who was running the race for the first time since 2019, clocked 2:33:43 in 2018 to set the standing record.
Ethiopia's Selam Gebre finished second in a time of 2:36:04 followed by Faith Chepkoech of Kenya came who came third place in a time of 2:37:26.
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