Two Oceans highlights: All eyes were on Steyn but Kaptein stole Cape Town's hearts

THE TotalSport Two Oceans weekend was its usual spectacle, with the Mother City’s ultra-marathon — renowned as ‘the world’s most beautiful marathon’ — and its half-marathon producing some intriguing runs.

For once, Gerda Steyn did not run a record time, but that should not detract from her fantastic race. Matshelane Mamabolo was in Cape Town to cover the 56km race — and even ran the half-marathon himself.

Here are his five standout memories from the weekend.

Gerda the Queen of the oceans

The Smiling Assassin smiled her way to a record-extending sixth successive victory in the ultra, with a win so consummately easy it could well have been a training run.

Steyn changed her usual strategy of starting cautiously and building momentum by going hard from the outset, saying she wanted "the others to pay tax." And pay they did — Steyn beat second-placed Shelmith Muriuki by nearly nine minutes with a time of 3:29:20.

The downside?

She didn’t break her own record. But Gerda wasn’t fussed, describing her race as a “10 out of 10.”

Mokoka is a man of steel

Stephen Mokoka’s transition to ultras is proving to be a nightmare — and you do wonder if it’s worth it.

After failing to finish last year’s race, the multiple Olympian talked a big game at the pre-race media conference and looked set to walk the talk, leading early on. But after the marathon mark, the wheels came off spectacularly as he suffered cramps and sat by the side of the road.

Everyone thought he was done. But nearly an hour later, Mokoka rejoined the race, walking to the finish in a pedestrian 4:52.

“I wanted this medal,” he said afterwards, showing off his bronze finisher’s medal and adding, “they say third time’s the charm.”

Proof that Tshipi ga e robege — steel is unbreakable.

Kaptein salutes Cape Town

Home ground advantage is often overrated. We’re frequently told an athlete will have the edge because they train in the same area. But in the Two Oceans Half Marathon, that theory had held little water — until now.

Since Makhosonke Fika’s win in the inaugural 1998 race, no local had won the men’s event. That changed this year, when William Kaptein finally delivered on his promise from the pre-race media conference.

The TymeBank Langa AC runner raced to a thunderous reception, beating national marathon champion Matlakala Seloi by just two seconds.

Back-to-back win still elude the men

Not since Marco Mambo defended his title in 2005 has any man won the 56km race back-to-back. Onalenna Khonkhobe, the small but outspoken Nedbank Running Club athlete, promised to change that.

Known for his entertaining bravado, he was in the mix all the way up the notorious Constantia Nek, cresting it in seventh. But cramps struck soon after, and he faded out of contention — ensuring the long-standing drought for successful title defences continued.

Ultra debuts for debutants

Lucky Mohale and Neheng Khatala both had the races of their lives in their ultra-marathon debuts, claiming third place finishes in the men’s and women’s races, respectively.

Mohale, a seasoned runner who has always promised big things, wasn’t on many radars for a podium, but he dug deep to edge out two-time podium finisher Nkosikhona Mhlakwana.

“I had to represent Nedbank,” he said, “especially seeing the champ (Khonkhobe) struggle.”

Khathala, meanwhile, proved her Soweto Marathon win was no fluke. Her solid performance helped Hollywood Athletics Club dominate the women’s podium—with Gerda Steyn in first, and Khathala in third.