Lucas Nonyana wins Karoo Ultra-Marathon

Acclaimed local athlete Lucas Nonyana (45) from Muwaweni village returned with a bright smile after winning the gruelling 56-kilometre race during the Laingsburg Karoo Ultra-Marathon that took place in the Western Cape on Saturday, 30 September.

Nonyana competed under the banner of the Run Excel Athletics Club in Gauteng, which was established this year.

Since 2003, when Nonyana competed in his first Comrades Marathon, he has become quite a legend. His first attempt at finishing this tough ultra-marathon was not very successful, and he missed the 12-hour cut-off. After training very hard, he returned to Kwazulu-Natal the next year to finish the Comrades race in 20^th position in a time of just over 6 hours.

Since then, he has become a force to be reckoned with, winning the Polokwane Marathon in 2015, the Amanzimtoti Marathon in 2017, and regularly ending in the top positions at numerous other marathons and ultra-marathons.

Returning with his gold trophy was a proud moment for Nonyana. This victory showcased not only his exceptional speed but also his endurance and unwavering commitment to the sport. “I’m very excited because this is actually my return to the racing track. I did not compete much since January this year, as I faced a lot of difficulties to enter competitions. But if I can keep this momentum, I will do even better in next year’s Comrades,” he said.

He encouraged young, upcoming runners never to lose hope. “As I’m getting older, I believe that the young ones will have to take over eventually, and in a few years, I’ll be going home to mentor them. Despite the fact that in most villages, many young stars do not participate in sports due to the lack of sporting facilities,” he said.

Sport - Date: 07 October 2023

Thembi Siaga

Thembi Siaga started as an intern during 2021. He assisted with video photography and editing. He also produced numerous small documentaries, focusing on the Vhembe region and its people. Currently he works as a freelance journalist, covering stories in the Elim area.

Thembi studied at the Tshwane University of Technology, where he completed his diploma in Journalism in 2021.

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