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Long-distance star Onalenna Khonkhobe has set his sights on a historic double by competing in both the City-to-City 50km ultra-marathon on 28 September and the Soweto Marathon 42.2km in November, where he is the defending champion.
The Nedbank Running Club athlete, coached by Pio Mpolokeng in Klerksdorp, has boldly declared that he will win the City to City ultra on debut and pocket the R200,000 prize.
The race starts at Marlboro Gautrain Station at 6am and finishes at Pilditch Stadium, which will also host the 10km (R10,000 prize) and 5km (R5,000 prize) events.
Despite admitting he is unfamiliar with the route, Khonkhobe is brimming with self-belief.
“I don’t have pressure, and I’m not scared of anyone. I just want to win the race, simple and easy,” he told SABC Sport at the race launch in Johannesburg. “Last year I didn’t know the Soweto Marathon course, but I still won it. I believe I can do the same here. I like running races where I don’t know the route.”
Last year, he made history by clinching both the Soweto Marathon and the Two Oceans titles in the same season, and he is confident he can reproduce that success this year.
Organised by Central Gauteng Athletics and Athletics Gauteng North with Gautrain as headline sponsor, the race has already attracted 735 entries out of a 5,000 target.
Last year’s event capped at 3,000 participants.
The former Two Oceans champion says his preparations are going smoothly as he balances both events.
“Yes, I’ll run City to City and Soweto. I’ll rest for seven days and then focus on the big one, Soweto. And yes, I believe I can win both. In fact, I will win both this year,” said the confident 27-year-old, known in running circles as ‘the head of the table.’
Khonkhobe’s mission is clear—cross the line first in both races and cement his status as one of South Africa’s top road runners.
