Record from fired up Khatoane

. . . as ASA champs beckon in PE

NTHETHE MAPHAONG

MASERU – Lesotho marathoner Jobo Khatoane will run in the Nelson Mandela Bay ASA Half Marathon Championship tomorrow at the Pollock Beach in Port Elizabeth.

The 21.1km marathon, which is held annually to commemorate Nelson Mandela Day will host a 5km fun run, in addition to the popular half marathon.

Khoatoane will be among 65 athletes are expected to participate in this marathon.

This will be the third time Khatoane participates in this marathon after his debut in 2017 when ended on position seven.

Last year he did not finish the race.

His mentor and trainer Kokolia Mokonyana told Public Eye on Wednesday this week that “Khatoane is mentally and physical fit for this year’s episode and will finish the race”, adding Khatoane did not complete last year’s race because he was disturbed by the passing of his mother.

He said Khoatoane’s performance in 2017 was the harbinger of things to come in this year’s race.

“If he was able to clinch seventh position in 2017, it means he can do better this year. He participated in African Beach Games which were held in Sal, Cape Verde recently where he managed to take fourth place.

The three athletes who were ahead of him were from Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.

“He has been preparing a lot for this race and I have faith that he will make Basotho proud again,” he said.

Khatoane finished in second position in the 2019 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, a 56km ultramarathon and a 21km half-marathon held annually in Cape Town, on the Saturday of the Easter weekend.

Known globally as “the world’s most beautiful marathon,” the race is run against a backdrop of spectacular scenery through the Cape Peninsula.

Khatoane will use the Nelson Mandela Bay ASA Half Marathon Championship to prepare for the 12th African Games which will take place from 19 to 31 August 2019 in Rabat, Morocco.