Leemisa Thuseho 

MARATHONER, Jobo Khatoane,?will battle?against a tide of runners?in the prestigious Two Oceans Half Marathon, in Cape Town,?today. 

After finishing on position three in last year’s edition, Khatoane is aiming for?an?improved time and better position this time around. 

Last year he made it to the podium after completing the race in 1:04:13. 

He?is?participating in?today’s race highly motivated after winning the Lesotho’s Bocheletsana Half Marathon in Thaba-Tseka?where he?clocked?a time of?1:02:40. The race was on 17 March this year. 

Khatoane said he would put up a?fight today?and that?he was fully prepared. 

“I think all is good, my body is ready,” Khatoane told the?Sunday Express?on Friday. 

“I want a better position?this year?with a more improved time. All the preparations went well, and I think I have the potential to do better?than the third position I landed last year. The only challenge could?be the weather.” 

Meanwhile,?the?22-year-old Kamohelo Mofolo will be making his?maiden appearance?in this race. He?said he was looking forward to marking his debut in style. 

“It will be my first time to compete in the Two Oceans?Marathon.?My target is to be in the leading top five at the end of the race and I think I am ready for the challenge,” Mofolo said. 

The other Lesotho runner competing in the half marathon today is Namakoe Nkhasi?who?is the former Two Ocean Marathon winner. He won the race in March 2016 with 1:03:38. 

Nkhasi is still in good shape as far as race fitness is concerned as on 22 March,?he was competing at the African Games in Accra, Ghana,?where he finished a 21km race in 1:05:58 and settled for position four. 

In the women’s half marathon category, Mokulubete Makatisi,?will be back to action following?her participation in?the Absa Run Your City 10K race in Eastern Cape, Gqeberha in South Africa last Sunday. In that race?she finished fifth and recorded Lesotho’s 10km new national record of 32:05.