Image: Two Oceans Twitter
Joseph Seutoali has enjoyed a 2025 to remember, becoming the first-ever Hollywood Athletics Club male athlete to win the Two Oceans Marathon. George Sithole caught up with the Lesotho national.
Hailing from the rural village of Matelile in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, Joseph Seutoali has risen to national hero status. His name first made waves during the 2024 Two Oceans Marathon, where he launched a bold early attack that ultimately proved premature. But he returned stronger in 2025, claiming a historic and memorable victory, becoming the first-ever male athlete to win the race for the Hollywood Athletics Club.
Seutoali’s journey has been shaped by the guidance of his coach and mentor, Andrew Booyens, who has played a vital role in his development. Humble and always smiling, the small runner has proven to be a giant on the road, fearlessly going toe-to-toe with the sport’s elite. His love for running began at the tender age of 10, and over the course of two decades, he has transformed that passion into a professional career. In 2019, Seutoali began working with Booyens, who brought structure and discipline to his training.
“He brought structure to my training and helped me reach the Olympic Games and major race victories like the Two Oceans Marathon,” Seutoali shared.
Now a standout member of the Purple Team, Seutoali joined Hollywood Athletics Club in 2023 after spending years as an independent runner. It was a career-defining decision.
“Joining Hollywood was a big and proud decision. I wanted to align myself with a club that shares my values of hard work, community, and high performance. Hollywood’s support has given me the platform to grow even further,” he explained.
The reigning Two Oceans Marathon Champion has expressed a deep love for ultra-marathons, a sentiment clearly reflected in his recent performances. After finishing 7th in his debut appearance in 2024, Seutoali returned in 2025 to claim victory and dropped major contenders to cross the finish.
𝟑:𝟏𝟎:𝟒𝟑 🥇🔥
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 5, 2025
Khoarahlane Seutloali becomes the first man from Lesotho to win the Two Oceans since 2015 👏🇱🇸
📺 Stream #TTOM2025 on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw pic.twitter.com/kZeYHNckwR
Success, however, hasn’t come easily. Seutoali spends much of his time training and travelling to South Africa for races, often at the cost of time with family.
“Running isn’t easy. It takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice, especially time away from loved ones,” he said. “I’m grateful for the support I get from my family and my kids. They understand my dreams, and I can always count on them to stand by me. Everything I do is to provide a better life for them.”
He emphasised that support is everything for an athlete and that having the right team is crucial to success. Seutoali credits much of his growth to Andrew Booyens, whose mentorship has guided his journey. “If I wasn’t a runner, I’d probably be working in the fields or herding animals in my village like many others from where I come from,” Seutoali admitted. “Running opened a new life path for me.”
Since joining the Purple Team, Seutoali has proven to be an asset, proudly representing the club with distinction at major races. His next goal is the African Bank Soweto Marathon, where he narrowly missed victory, finishing second to Onalenna Khonkhobe in the final meters of the race.
The two will clash again in the race known as ‘The People’s Race.’ This time, Seutoali will be aiming to go one better and, perhaps, to hold two of South Africa’s most prestigious running titles in the same year. Watch this space!
