Strong fields have been announced for the 2025 Soweto Marathon to be held on Saturday.
We pick three contenders to watch in the men’s and women’s contests at the popular annual race.
Men
Onalenna Khonkhobe
Is there anything this man can’t do?
A former winner of the 56km Two Oceans and 50km City 2 City ultra-marathons, he took third place over the 10km and 21km distances at the SA Championships this season.
Perhaps best known for twice leading the Comrades Marathon by massive margins until the closing stages of the race, Khonkhobe has repeatedly proved how tough he is.
Lining up as the defending champion in Soweto, after winning the race last year in 2:18:36, few will bet against him in his attempt to retain his title.
Siboniso Sikhakhane
In 2021, Sikhakhane set a 42km personal best of 2:11:49 to finish eighth at the Cape Town Marathon, and the following year he was third at the Two Oceans ultra-marathon.
Over the next two years, he struggled to find his best form, but he bounced back this season to take second position at Two Oceans.
One of the fastest runners in the field, and clearly strong on hills, if he is in his best shape this weekend he should be in contention for the win.
Daba Ifa Debele
Having won the Soweto Marathon in 2022, Debele went on to take the runner-up spot the following year behind Ntsindiso Maphakathi (who is also in the field for this weekend’s race).
Outside of his performances in Soweto, we don’t know much about him, but Debele has repeatedly proved how capable he is on the tough course through the historical township.
It’s unclear what sort of shape he’s in, but based on his past performances, the Ethiopian athlete might be difficult to beat.
Women
Irvette van Zyl
She will have to be at her best against a strong field, but this is Van Zyl’s race and she will be eager to win again.
A four-time winner in Soweto, she holds the course record of 2:33:43 which she set in 2018, and Van Zyl is known for her ability to tackle hills like a beast.
Having recently returned from injury, she has shown good form over shorter distances, and she will be confident of putting up a fight in an attempt to secure her fifth victory at the popular race.
Gerda Steyn
A four-time winner of the 90km Comrades Marathon and six-time winner at Two Oceans, Steyn needs no introduction.
The ‘Smiling Assassin’ is a former SA record holder over the standard marathon distance and is obviously more than capable on a tough course.
But she has never run the Soweto Marathon, and Van Zyl holds an advantage in that she knows the course, so it will be interesting to see whether Steyn sticks to her compatriot like glue or runs her own race, as she usually does.
Shelmith Muriuki
In the absence of defending champion Neheng Khatala of Lesotho, Muriuki is likely to turn out as the strongest challenger behind the battle between Van Zyl and Steyn.
The Kenyan athlete is a former winner of City 2 City, and this year she took second place behind Steyn at Two Oceans before finishing third at the Comrades.
She doesn’t have the speed of the pre-race favourites, but if either of them find the going tough, Muriuki should be ready to pounce.
* Featured image of Onalenna Khonkhobe by Cecilia van Bers
