Soweto Marathon Shaping Up to be a Race to Remember ...

After early doubts the race might not take place there was a collective sigh of relief following confirmation that the 2023 Soweto Marathon is set to get under this Sunday, 5 November, 2023. 

This 28th edition will begin at the the FNB Stadium and, as the name suggests, will traverse Soweto for the 42 kilometre marathon, and then finishing at the Calabash. 

The race was shrouded by uncertainty the year after report suggested the race would be cancelled but the race organisers quashed those rumours saying this was not the case. 

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Irvette van Zyl who will be hoping she can bag her first win since she last competed in the race in 2019. Although she has been away for while, her record in the 2018 race that saw her run in a time of 2hr 33min 43sec still stands. 

In a interview with Sowetan Live, Van Zyl was confident that her course record could be broken this year.

“I think the record will go, but I’m not sure if it will be me,” Van Zyl told a press conference at the FNB stadium on Thursday morning, where preparations were being done for the Springbok reception in the afternoon.

“I always say, Soweto is really hard, but if the weather is cooler, then it’s really possible to break the record, because that last 10km won’t be that brutal.”

Ethiopian runner Chalu Bedo Negashu was last year’s winner, and will be hoping for another strong race as he looks to seal back-to-back titles.

The Soweto marathon is also looking to be single-day mass participation record again, a feat they manage to a achieve in the 2022 race.

The race will be broadcast on SuperSport on channel 201. 

Photo Caption: The 28th edition of the Soweto Marathon is set to get underway this Sunday and it’s looking to be another memorable race, and course record holder Irvette van Zyl believes her mark will be bettered this year. Photo Soweto Marathon on X

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