The South African 10 km champions were crowned at the 22nd Sasol Marathon run on Saturday, 6 February 2016 at the DP de Villiers Stadium in Sasolburg, seeing Lebo Phalula successfully defending her 2015 title and Elroy Gelant reclaiming the title he has last won in 2013.

Elroy Gelant (from NWU Puk Athletics Club in Potchefstroom) representing Central North West, finished the race in an excellent time of 29:15. Running in the colours of Central Gauteng, Lebo Phalula (Boxer Athletics Club in Westville, KZN) defended her title in 34:09, narrowly beating her twin sister, Lebogang Phalula also running for Central Gauteng, with 39 seconds.

The 10 km National Championship race was open to men and women from all ASA Member Provinces and Associate Members, including South African Masters Association (SAMA) athletes. Athletes not entered as part of the official provincial teams, participated in the 10 km open race.

Tebogo Lejaha from Cool Running, Lesotho won the Sasol Marathon in an excellent 2:24:33, beating the three time winner, William Mokwalakwala from Brooks Athletics Club (Helderkruin) who came second in 2:29:43, by more than five minutes. Yolandi Maclean from Born 2 Run Athletics Club (Randburg) successfully defended her 2015 marathon title, finishing in a time of 2:57:26.

The 21,1 km half marathon was won by Thabo Molefe (Motebang Village in Lesotho) in 66:57, with Elmarie Goodchild running for Pentagon Pistols (Bloemfontein) winning the senior ladies race in 87:02.

As a qualifier for both the Comrades and Two Oceans racers, the Sasol Marathon is a popular event on the Free State, Gauteng and North West racing calendars. Participation increased this year by 25%, from 2 500 athletes in 2015, to 3 133 taking part this year in the 42,2 km, 21,1 km, 10 km and 4,9 km fun run. As in previous years, runners from Lesotho and Zimbabwe also participated on the day.

“Sasol is proud to have hosted the cream of our South African 10 km runners at the Sasol Marathon this year. When we invested in the upgrading of the DP de Villiers Stadium as part of our community investment programme (Ikusasa) a few years ago, one of our objectives was to attract more national and international sport events to Sasolburg. The consistent increase in the number of participants and specifically 465 entrants enjoying the 4,9 km fun run, is what we aim for to encourage an active and healthy lifestyle in our communities,” said Louis Fourie, Senior Vice President: Sasol’s Sasolburg Operations.

The 2016 Sasol Marathon was hosted in collaboration with the Sasolburg Athletics Club, Athletics South Africa and South African Masters Athletics.

22nd Sasol Marathon results

10km (Also served as SA Champs)

21,1 km

42,2 km