All roads lead to Cape Town this weekend as the annual Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon and Half Marathon take place in the Mother City. Cuan Walker takes a look at some Hollywood AC's top contenders.
Gerda Steyn
Breaking the course record three consecutive times in her last three runs, Steyn also set another record last year when she became the first woman to win five Two Oceans Marathons. Having trained specifically for this year’s race at a training camp in Dullstroom, Steyn heads into this year’s race as the woman to beat, but it may take another record breaking run to even be in contention to do that.
🌟 Welcome to the Purple Family, Gerda Steyn! 🌟
— Hollywood Athletics Club (@HWAthleticsClub) January 15, 2025
She’s not just a runner; she’s a record-breaker and a game-changer. 🏃♀️✨
From dominating the Comrades to conquering the Two Oceans, Gerda embodies the spirit of excellence. 💜
Join us in celebrating this legendary addition to… pic.twitter.com/EHcXUqsD7u
Irvette van Zyl
A two-time winner of the Two Oceans Half Marathon, van Zyl ran an amazing race in 2022, where she finished ahead of the long-standing course record of Frith van Der Merwe’s 3:30:36 from 1989. Unfortunately van Zyl, her teammate Steyn passed her within the final 3km and she had to settle for second place. She came back last year and ran even quicker, but had to play bridesmaid as Steyn once again came out on top. With the two now in the same club colours, do we see a new race tactic form on the day? Van Zyl is fit and looking forward to a great race.
Loveness Madziva
Living and training in Durban, last year Madziva ran the race of her life at Two Oceans to collect her fourth gold medal but this time finished on the podium in third, with a blisteringly fast 3:38:00 performance. Known as an aggressive front runner who is not scared to take up the pace, Madziva is a formidable force to be reckoned with up front, alongside her fellow Hollywood teammates.
Carla Molinaro
A podium finisher on her debut Two Oceans Marathon in 2023 when she finished third, Molinaro followed that up with another gold medal finish last year when she finished fifth, running less than a minute slower than her 2023 performance. A World Champion over 50km, Molinaro is a strength runner and though you may not see her upfront in the beginning, you can guarantee that come the finish, Molinaro will run down anyone who chooses to go off too fast and pay the price later.
Top 5 for the Purple team! 🏆💜
— Hollywood Athletics Club (@HWAthleticsClub) June 9, 2024
Well done to Carla Molinaro on crossing the line in a time of 06:12:01, placing 4th at this years Ultimate Human Race! #HWAC #ComradesMarathon #TheUltimateHumanRace pic.twitter.com/W9iVThyXwB
Neheng Khatala
The Lesotho national record holder over the marathon, Khatala is an interesting athlete to watch as she moves up to her very first ultra. With a recent victory at November’s Soweto Marathon, Khatala proved that she can handle not only tough conditions, but the hills too, and comes into this year’s race as a dark horse.
Reigning Soweto Marathon champion Neheng Khatala is poised to make her debut at the prestigious Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town
— Hollywood Athletics Club (@HWAthleticsClub) February 5, 2025
Check out the full article now! 👇#HollywoodAthleticsClub #HollywoodAC #HWAC #PurpleTeam #Running #Fitness
Nkosikhona Mhlakwana
In mathematics, 3-2 equals 1, and those numbers have great significance for Mhlakwana who has finished third and second in his two outings at the Two Oceans Marathon. Victory is the aim for the athlete who is based in Howick and has been training at altitude in Underberg just for the race. A totally different athlete now, after improving his speed which saw him shatter his 10km best time with a 28:58 clocking, Mhlakwana is one to watch.
Meet the unstoppable Nkosikhona 'Pitbull' Mhlakwana! 🇿🇦💥
— Hollywood Athletics Club (@HWAthleticsClub) February 28, 2025
A true long-distance specialist, this Hollywood Athletics Club Elite Athlete is carving his name into South Africa’s running history.
With a 10km PB of 28:58 and a marathon PB of 2:16:23, Nkosikhona takes speed and… pic.twitter.com/wbRmYPL40S
Stephen Mokoka
A national champion and record-holder over multiple distances, Mokoka came to last year’s Two Oceans Marathon looking to emulate his late father-in-law Zithulele Sinqe, who not only won on debut but backed that up with back-to-back victories. It was not to be after Mokoka lost touch with the leaders with only 6km to go and failed to finish. A former world record holder over the 50km distance, Mokoka returns to the event with a point to prove.
Purple is the new black 🤪💜💜💜#HollywoodAC #purpleteam💜 #hwac pic.twitter.com/mMqGeGIbOm
— Stephen Mokoka (@MokokaSteve) March 21, 2025
Khoarahlane Seutloali
Hailing from the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, Seutloali almost pulled it off last year when on his ultra marathon debut, he took the lead with a sharp injection of speed once they made their way over the top of Constantia Nek with less than 10km to go. It was a move too soon as Seutloali faded in the closing stages but still held on for a gold medal finish in eighth. As a second-place finisher in the accompanying half marathon before, Seutloali returns to Cape Town much wiser and looking for a great run.
Tsepo Ramashamole
Ramashamole debuted at last years Two Oceans Marathon and ran a brave race before fading out of the top 10 over the final stages. A 14th-place finish in a time of 3:18:08 was still nothing to be ashamed of, and Ramashamole returns this year wiser and stronger. His recent victory at the very tough Pirates Half Marathon in February whilst in heavy training for Two Oceans is a good indicator that the man who also hails from Lesotho is in fine form and could do something special.
Meet Tsépo Ramashamole, from the Mountain Kingdom cool, calm & collected and a force to be reckoned with on the road! 🇱🇸💥
— Hollywood Athletics Club (@HWAthleticsClub) March 28, 2025
With a 10km PB of 28:36, a Half Marathon PB of 1:04:40, and a Marathon PB of 2:12:02, Tsépo is turning up the heat and showing the world what he’s made of.… pic.twitter.com/OBXAQXYUdi
Msawenkosi Mthalane
Mthalane who hails from KZN is a double gold medallist at the Two Oceans Marathon after finishing ninth on debut in 2022. He followed that up a year later with a very fast 3:11:16 which was only good enough for fourth on the day. This year he returns to the Mother City after sitting out of last year’s event and will undoubtably be eyeing a podium finish.
