Dubbed Gauteng’s most beautiful marathon, the Joburg City Marathon started at the Klipriviersberg Recreation Centre in Kibler Park, south of Joburg, with arrival time set for 5:30am.
Scores of runners and athletes were up in the early hours to take part in the marathon. Several roads across the city were closed to allow participants to pursue their passion uninterrupted.
Proudly hosted by the Johannesburg Harriers Athletics Club, the event featured three race distances—42.2km, 21.1km, and 10km—offering an epic test of endurance and determination.
Runners tackled the City’s M1 freeway, with the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein serving as a significant race landmark. The iconic structure, named after the late struggle hero, provided a historic and picturesque backdrop to the event.
The marathon culminated in an atmosphere of excitement as participants proudly collected their medals, cementing their status as icons of this prestigious race.
Formerly known as the Jackie Gibson Marathon, the Joburg City Marathon is an annual event hosted by the Johannesburg Harriers Athletics Club. One of the oldest running clubs in the country, the club has long been at the forefront of the city’s road-running community.
Walkers were encouraged to enter the 10km and 21.1km distances, while the 42.2km race had a 10:00 am cut-off at the 26km mark. All finishers who completed the race before the final six-hour cut-off at 12:00 pm received medals.
Participants’ race numbers included a timing chip, with official times recorded on a mat-to-mat basis for both the 21.1km and 42.2km events. Bridget Mokoena, a runner from Diepkloof in Soweto, shared her passion for the sport: “Running is in my blood. I’m so excited to be part of this race and to be able to feed my passion. If I don’t run, I literally get sick,” she said.
Raphael Segodi won the 42.2km in 2 hours, 33 minutes and 55 seconds. He was followed by Omo Hlungwane and Sipho Hlatshwayo. Mayibongwe Ndlovu from Zimbabwe was the winner of the 21.1km leg in 1 hour, 12 minutes and 55 seconds, with Moses Zozo from Lesotho second and South Africa’s Doctor Mathole third. Rirhandzu Rhangani won the 10km in 32 minutes and 39 seconds.
