The 54th edition of the Totalsports Two Oceans 56km Ultra Marathon saw two exceptional performances, with Joseph Seutloali and Gerda Steyn each securing historic victories. Seutloali’s win marks the biggest achievement of his career, while Steyn made history with her remarkable sixth consecutive victory, a feat no one has ever achieved in South African road running.
Seutloali, who had previously secured a second-place finish in the 2017 Two Oceans Half Marathon and an 8th place in last year’s ultra, finally put everything together this year. The Tokyo Olympian, coached by Andrew Booyens, crossed the line in 3 hours 10 minutes 46 seconds, clinching victory by 31 seconds ahead of Johannesburg-based Siboniso Sikhakhane.
I’m ecstatic to win today. My coach and I worked really hard this year to fix what we didn’t get right last year. We put in a lot of effort to improve my performance, and I’m just so grateful to see the results.
The men’s race was intensely competitive, with Seutloali, Sikhakhane, and Nedbank’s Lucky Mohale battling neck-and-neck in the final stages. With just 3km to go, the four frontrunners, including Seutloali and Sikhakhane, surged ahead, but it was Seutloali who drew on the support from his Hollywood Athletics Club teammates and his last gel to accelerate into the lead.
Reflecting on his victory, Seutloali added:
I’m proud of our running history. The last Lesotho athlete to win was Motlokoa Nkhabutlane, who is coached by the same coach as me, Andrew Booyens. His advice helped me a lot, and I’m so happy to be following in his footsteps.
On the women’s side, Gerda Steyn continued her dominance in South African ultra-running by clocking 3 hours 29 minutes 10 seconds, securing her sixth straight victory at the prestigious race. This astonishing achievement underscores Steyn's reputation as the golden girl of South African road running, as she extended her unbeaten streak at Two Oceans to an unprecedented six years.
It’s another fantastic race, and I’m so pleased with the win. “I’m so proud to be here, using my God-given talent to race at my best. It’s truly a blessing to be able to do this.
Steyn’s victory was hard-earned, as Kenyan veteran Shelmith Muriuki provided stiff competition. Steyn went out strong, passing the halfway point 90 seconds quicker than her 2024 time. Muriuki, however, stayed close, keeping the pressure on. Despite the heat and humidity, Steyn managed to pull away on the challenging Chappies climb and continued to extend her lead, eventually finishing 8 minutes 40 seconds ahead of Muriuki.
I was surprised to see Muriuki still with me halfway. But I pushed hard, especially on the climbs. I went out aggressively to make sure no one could follow. It was tough, but I managed to find my rhythm and finish strong.
Muriuki’s time of 3:37:50 was a commendable second place, but it was Steyn’s sheer consistency and experience that saw her secure yet another victory in the race known for its difficulty and unpredictable conditions.
The race also featured a heartwarming display of perseverance from Stephen Mokoka, who, despite suffering severe leg cramps at the 46km mark, chose to continue. The four time Olympian and three-time Cape Town Marathon winner refused to quit, walking the final stretch and finishing in 4 hours 51 minutes, an hour and 40 minutes behind the leaders.
Reflecting on his decision to continue, Mokoka shared:
I stopped for 20 minutes and then decided I couldn’t have another DNF. I kept pushing, and it was great to get encouragement from the other runners. It wasn’t easy, but finishing was important to me.
In the end, the 2025 Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon was a celebration of resilience and excellence, with Seutloali and Steyn proving that hard work, dedication, and an unbreakable spirit are the keys to success. Their victories will go down in history as one of the most memorable moments in South African road running.
