Reghen Magwai and Annie Bothma have secured the top spots at the ASA Marathon Championships held in Durban this past Sunday.
Reghen Magwai and Annie Bothma have emerged as the new headline names after securing the SA Marathon Titles in Durban this past weekend.
In a display of grit and endurance, Magwai clocked a personal best time of 2:11:20 to claim his first-ever national championship gold.. The Athletics Gauteng North representative managed to outpace his competitors in the final stages, securing both the open race victory and the national title in one go.
This victory highlights a significant milestone for local marathoners, who continue to push performance boundaries while competing for both prestige and substantial financial rewards on the national stage.
Joining him on the podium were Rirhandzu Rhangani, who took home the silver medal for the South African Police Service in 2:15:34, and Tshepo Gavu, representing Athletics Vaal Triangle, who earned bronze with a time of 2:16:41.. Magwai noted that while he missed his sub-2:11 target, he is satisfied with the progress he has made after previously settling for silver and bronze.
On the women’s side, Annie Bothma reclaimed the national crown she first held in 2023.. Although she finished second in the overall open race behind Ethiopia’s Alemitu Lema, her time of 2:27:45 was enough to secure her the national gold.. Her performance marked a historic moment as she became only the 10th South African woman to break the 2:30:00 barrier.
Bothma expressed her pride in the achievement, noting that the national title is a career highlight despite the stiff competition from international runners. She was followed by Nomvula Sithole and Leandre van der Merwe, who rounded out the national podium.
Misryoum reports that the race served as a dual-purpose event, with athletes vying for both the championship title and significant prize money. This structure has clearly upped the stakes for domestic events, encouraging higher intensity from the starting gun.
Leadership within the athletic community praised the winners for their tactical approach to the race. Acting President of the national body, John Mathane, commended both athletes for their resilience and ability to handle the pressure of such a high-stakes environment.
The success of these athletes reflects a rising standard in local long-distance running, showing that the pursuit of excellence is currently at an all-time high for South African road runners.