Mountain Marathon bonanza

Organisers inject M200k in prize money for new 42km race

SEKETE LESAOANA

MASERU – The Mountain Marathon 21 has introduced a 42.2 km race category for its upcoming Second Edition due for later this year. The much-awaited race is scheduled for October 25.

And will be the second stint since its inception in 2024. At its first instalment the race saw a success of hosting 172 athletes both local and international athletes.

The marathon, the first of its kind in Lesotho especially in terms of the prize catch, hopes to attract more participants through the introduction of the 42.2km sprint.

Speaking to this paper, one of the organisers, Mosiuoa Nthakong, said through the addition they want to see growth and interest. “We started with a 5km, moved onto the 21km half marathon. For this second edition, we decided to add more categories since there is a signal that people have long been waiting for this type of event in the area.

We have seen that this has long been overdue. The 42.2km will reveal growth and positivity, growing our talent while also widening our net,” Nthakong said.

While last year’s highest prize was pegged at M150 000, the 42.2km race promises a whooping M200 000 in both men and women categories. This race which attracts both local and international athletes, is divided into 21.1km and the 42.2km and is open to persons from 17 years and older.

Those 14 years and older but less than 17 register for the 5km race. The total sponsorship for the inception of the Mountain Marathon 21 for 2024 was M1.2 million while the prizes amounted to M 750 000 in total.

Nthakong explained, “The total sponsorship for the Second Edition is estimated at about M2.4 million which is about double the first edition sponsorship of the race last year.

“And we are very positive as I mentioned before, for instance in comparison, in South African the Two Oceans Marathon in its inception recorded only 24 participants while in our starting phase we hosted 172 athletes, and with this upgrade we anticipate a bigger number.

“We have also opened registration earlier so that participants will regard the Lesotho marathon as a pride over those of other counties.” The inaugural Mountain Marathon 21 exceeded expectations as Lesotho’s long-distance running stars, Tebello Ramakongoana and Mokulubete Makatisi, claimed victory in the men’s and women’s 21.1-kilometre races respectively. Each champion walked away with a grand prize of M150 000 in this World Athletics-recognised race.

This victory was the latest in a series of wins for Ramakongoana, who also managed seventh spot in the 2024 Olympic Games.