Over 1000 runners hit the Makhonjwa mountains
The Makhonjwa race is a qualifying event for both the Comrades Marathon and the Two Oceans Marathon
Over 1000 runners participated in this year's Makhonjwa 4-in-1 marathon held in Barberton, Mpumalanga. The race, organized by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), featured four options: 42.2km, 21.1km, 10km, and 4.9km. The event, taking place at the Makhonjwa World Heritage Site, aimed to promote tourism in the province.
Nomvula Sithole, the female winner from Nkomazi, described the race as one of the most challenging she had ever run. Despite the difficulty, Sithole expressed her happiness about securing the first position in the 42.2km race. Ayanda Ngcobo, the male winner from Pine Town in KwaZulu-Natal, won his first-ever Makhonjwa marathon, acknowledging the race as tough but praising the experience.
The MTPA emphasized that the race, serving as a qualifier for the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons, plays a significant role in boosting the local economy and promoting adventure tourism in Mpumalanga, including its UNESCO sites. Winners received monetary prizes and tokens of appreciation, with the 42.2km race first prize at R17000 for both male and female winners. The winners have qualified for both the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
