Basotho athletes dominated Nedbank Soweto 42.2km race when Teboho Sello surprised many by scooping the race for the first time after defying all odds and scooped the M100 000.00 first prize money on Sunday.

As if that was not enough, Oarinyane Lebopo, the younger brother of last year's winner Mabuthile, came second while Lebenya Nkoka obtained third position as Basotho proved once again that they mean business and made sure that the race championship remains in Lesotho.

Tsotang Maine, another local road runner who won the race in 2005, and was a hot favourite to reclaim the race but settled for fifth position as they ran away with major prizes in the Nedbank Soweto marathon which is the richest race in Africa.

The last year's defending champion in the women's category 'Mamoroallo Tjoka added another medal as she won the race for the third time in a row.

Hailing from the mountains of Mant'sonyane, in the Thaba-Tseka district and humble backgrounds, Tjoka defied all odds to beat Russian opponent in a sensational victory to grab M100 000.00 first prize money.

In a post race interview, Sello said they had planned to get the top 5 finish since they train together.

He pointed out that they were happy to have taken the first three positions though Maine became forth but believed that had Mabuthile Lebopo been present, they could have finished the race at a faster race.

When asked what he was going to do with the money, he said he was still going to decide as winning the race was his priority and not the money at stake.

On the other hand, Tjoka said she was nervous at the beginning as she had not prepared well for the race and the fact that a Russian athlete was a tipped as a hot favourite Nedbank Soweto marathon.

Though she started the race at a slow pace, she garnered strength as the race went on and after the 25th mark; she led the race till to the finish.

Mabuthile won the race last year and was unable to defend this year's edition due to injury; however his younger brother finished second as a compensation for his elder brother's absence to defend his title.

This year's edition of Nedbank Soweto 42.2 km marathon attracted a total of 4430 athletes worldwide and the total prize money was M806.700.00.

Source: LENA 04/11/200