Veteran Stephen Mokoka, a three-time Cape Town Marathon winner and former South African marathon record-holder, will lead the local charge at Sunday's race.
The noise surrounding this year’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is impossible to ignore. The arrival of marathon great Eliud Kipchoge has elevated excitement around the race to unprecedented levels, with South African road running fans eagerly anticipating the sight of the two-time Olympic champion on local soil.
But while much of the media attention remains firmly focused on the Kenyan icon, there is another storyline unfolding quietly in the background — one centred on a man who already owns a special piece of Cape Town Marathon history.
Stephen Mokoka is simply not interested in getting swept up in the external hype. The three-time Cape Town Marathon champion has one singular goal in mind: reclaiming his crown and becoming a four-time winner of the prestigious race. For Mokoka, this assignment is entirely about purpose, tactical execution, and personal ambition rather than external distractions.
“I take it like the world championships, I take it as the Olympics,” Mokoka said this week following an intense training session at Tuks. “There’s always noise, there’s always vibes. But you must stay in your own lane, focus on yourself, and focus heavily on your goal.”
