Soccer

Steyn, Sikhakhane aim for dominance in high‑stakes Two Oceans battle

By Kgomotso Mokoena
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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 13: Onalenna Khonkhobe Elite Male winner during the 2024 Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon finishing at UCT Rugby Fields on April 13, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Peter Heeger/Gallo Images)

The 2026 Two Oceans Marathon (TOM), also known as the World’s Most Beautiful Marathon, promises another unforgettable weekend of world-class running, spectacular scenery, and thrilling experiences for participants of all levels.

From the iconic Ultra- and Half-Marathon routes to the popular Trail Run, runners can look forward to pushing their limits, chasing personal bests, and soaking in the excitement of one of the world’s most beautiful and celebrated events this coming Saturday and Sunday. With elite athletes, innovative partnerships, and exciting new activations, TOM 2026 is set to deliver unforgettable moments for everyone involved.

After finishing as the runner-up last year, Sboniso Sikhakhane is confident that Saturday will be the day he claims his first-ever win in the ultra-marathon. Sikhakhane finished just 31 seconds after Khoarahlane Seutloali had breasted the tape. It’s a memory that still lingers in his mind.

“I still think I should have won the race last year. I had a good strategy on how to attack the race from the start to the end. It all worked out well till the latter stages of the race. I made a huge mistake when I went to fetch a water bottle where I wasn’t supposed to. I gave Khoarahlane an opportunity to open a gap, which made it hard for me to recover from.”

Onalenna Khonkhobe will also be looking to make amends. Going into the 2025 race as the defending champion after his 3:09:30 finish in 2024, the Nedbank Running Club star looked likely to win a second title as he went through the 50km mark with the lead bunch. But after battling with cramps while running down the descent from Constantia Nek, he was forced to abandon his challenge with less than 6km to go and failed to finish the race.

“I would like to win the Two Oceans like I did in 2024. Last year I couldn’t even make it into the top 10,” explains

Khonkhobe, who is a two-time Two Oceans gold medalist. With Sikhakhane, Khonkhobe and host of other top contenders including Mapahtso Nadolo and Joseph Manyedi gunning for gold, defending champion Seutloali of Lesotho will have his work cut out for him. Having pocketed R250 000 for winning the 2025 edition, the Olympian is relishing the opportunity of walking away with R380 000 for defending his title.

With a highly contested men’s race expected, the neutrals will be hoping that someone can challenge six-time champion Gerda Steyn in the women’s race. The darling of South African road running, who broke her own course record to win the 2024 edition of the iconic South African sporting and cultural event in 3:26:54, has enjoyed unparalleled success at the Two Oceans.

“If I had to single out one special moment, it would be crossing the finish line in first place for the very first time in 2018. It was an incredible experience and a pivotal moment in my career. It made me believe I could be a winner and showed me that my running could positively impact the community. It was overwhelming, but I remain grateful for that first win,” said Steyn.

Steyn is likely to face her stiffest competition from her Hollywood Athletics Club teammates. Irvette van Zyl has finished as runner-up to Steyn on three occasions. The four-time Olympian returns to the 2026 race, determined to turn last year’s illness heartbreak into triumph.

“Last year my Two Oceans didn’t end up the way I wanted it to. This year I’ll be leaving the kids at home, just to make sure there are no last-minute bugs to derail my race plans,” jokes Van Zyl. “I had a talk with them and they understood. So, this time I’m going into the race a bit more confident that I’ll be healthy and ready to race a bit better than last year.”

Neheng Khatala who claimed third position in 2025, will also believe that she has what it takes to win the race. Renowned for her versatility across a wide range of distances, Lesotho’s fastest female 10km and 42km runner of all time is determined to secure a top-two finish.

“My aim is to improve,” admits Khatala. “Last year I finished in third position, so this year I must target a win or second position. The point is to improve last year’s performance and if I can achieve that, it would be a huge blessing.”

 

 

 

  • The 2026 Two Oceans Marathon (TOM) is billed as the "World’s Most Beautiful Marathon."
  • The event offers a memorable weekend featuring world-class running.
  • Participants can enjoy spectacular scenery throughout the marathon.
  • The marathon caters to runners of all skill levels.
  • Full details of the event are available by purchasing the Sunday World e-edition.
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The 2026 Two Oceans Marathon (TOM), also known as the World’s Most Beautiful Marathon, promises another unforgettable weekend of world-class running, spectacular scenery, and thrilling experiences for participants of all levels.

From the iconic Ultra- and Half-Marathon routes to the popular Trail Run, runners can look forward to pushing their limits, chasing personal bests, and soaking in the excitement of one of the world’s most beautiful and celebrated events this coming Saturday and Sunday. With elite athletes, innovative partnerships, and exciting new activations, TOM 2026 is set to deliver unforgettable moments for everyone involved.

After finishing as the runner-up last year, Sboniso Sikhakhane is confident that Saturday will be the day he claims his first-ever win in the ultra-marathon. Sikhakhane finished just 31 seconds after Khoarahlane Seutloali had breasted the tape. It’s a memory that still lingers in his mind.

“I still think I should have won the race last year. I had a good strategy on how to attack the race from the start to the end. It all worked out well till the latter stages of the race. I made a huge mistake when I went to fetch a water bottle where I wasn’t supposed to. I gave Khoarahlane an opportunity to open a gap, which made it hard for me to recover from.”

Onalenna Khonkhobe will also be looking to make amends. Going into the 2025 race as the defending champion after his 3:09:30 finish in 2024, the Nedbank Running Club star looked likely to win a second title as he went through the 50km mark with the lead bunch. But after battling with cramps while running down the descent from Constantia Nek, he was forced to abandon his challenge with less than 6km to go and failed to finish the race.

“I would like to win the Two Oceans like I did in 2024. Last year I couldn’t even make it into the top 10,” explains

Khonkhobe, who is a two-time Two Oceans gold medalist. With Sikhakhane, Khonkhobe and host of other top contenders including Mapahtso Nadolo and Joseph Manyedi gunning for gold, defending champion Seutloali of Lesotho will have his work cut out for him. Having pocketed R250 000 for winning the 2025 edition, the Olympian is relishing the opportunity of walking away with R380 000 for defending his title.

With a highly contested men’s race expected, the neutrals will be hoping that someone can challenge six-time champion Gerda Steyn in the women’s race. The darling of South African road running, who broke her own course record to win the 2024 edition of the iconic South African sporting and cultural event in 3:26:54, has enjoyed unparalleled success at the Two Oceans.

“If I had to single out one special moment, it would be crossing the finish line in first place for the very first time in 2018. It was an incredible experience and a pivotal moment in my career. It made me believe I could be a winner and showed me that my running could positively impact the community. It was overwhelming, but I remain grateful for that first win,” said Steyn.

Steyn is likely to face her stiffest competition from her Hollywood Athletics Club teammates. Irvette van Zyl has finished as runner-up to Steyn on three occasions. The four-time Olympian returns to the 2026 race, determined to turn last year’s illness heartbreak into triumph.

“Last year my Two Oceans didn’t end up the way I wanted it to. This year I’ll be leaving the kids at home, just to make sure there are no last-minute bugs to derail my race plans,” jokes Van Zyl. “I had a talk with them and they understood. So, this time I’m going into the race a bit more confident that I’ll be healthy and ready to race a bit better than last year.”

Neheng Khatala who claimed third position in 2025, will also believe that she has what it takes to win the race. Renowned for her versatility across a wide range of distances, Lesotho’s fastest female 10km and 42km runner of all time is determined to secure a top-two finish.

“My aim is to improve,” admits Khatala. “Last year I finished in third position, so this year I must target a win or second position. The point is to improve last year’s performance and if I can achieve that, it would be a huge blessing.”