Six athletes from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) delivered strong performances at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town on Saturday, 11 April 2026, with all participants completing the gruelling 56.6km ultra marathon in under five hours.
Representing DUT were five staff members, namely Dr Mthobisi Ntuli, Mr Kgomotso Letebele, Mr Wesley Ngcobo, Mr Lindokuhle Manyoni, Ms Colleen Lotz, and alumnus Mr Nathi Mhlongo, who completed the 21km half marathon on Sunday, 12 April 2026.
The athletes showcased DUT’s values of excellence and commitment while competing in one of the world’s most challenging road races. For the DUT runners, the event also formed part of their preparations for the upcoming Comrades Marathon, scheduled for 14 June 2026 in Durban.
Mr Lindokuhle Manyoni, Road Running Coordinator and PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering at DUT, praised the team for their discipline and dedication. He completed the race in 4 hours 07 minutes and described the experience as both demanding and rewarding.
“The race was tough, especially the hills. However, I remained focused on my pacing. There were moments where it got really difficult, but I pushed through. Finishing in 4 hours 07 minutes was a great achievement. Wearing DUT colours on such a big stage is always an honour. It pushes you to give your best, not just for yourself but for the university,” said Manyoni.
First-time participant Mr Wesley Ntuthuko Ngcobo, Team Leader in the Human Capital Services unit, said his early morning training routine played a key role in his performance. He completed the race in 4 hours 55 minutes and noted that the event tested him both physically and mentally.
“The overall experience was wonderful. The hills were challenging, especially the one after 42km. My goal was to finish under five hours, and I achieved it. The race also helped me assess my fitness and identify areas to improve ahead of the Comrades Marathon,” said Ngcobo.
Lecturer in the Mathematics Department, Dr Mthobisi Ntuli, also making his debut at the event, described the race as an important endurance test in preparation for the Comrades Marathon. He used it to evaluate pacing, nutrition strategy, and overall readiness over ultra distances.
He explained that his training included hill repeats, tempo runs, strength training, and long weekend runs, supported by a simulation run organised by the DUT Athletics Club to replicate the race profile.
Dr Ntuli described the route as scenic, particularly the Chapman’s Peak section. However, he sustained a foot injury early in the race, which affected his pace and prevented him from meeting his target time of between 5 hours 45 minutes and 6 hours. He ultimately finished in 6 hours 24 minutes.
Despite the setback, his focus remains on improving his Comrades Marathon performance, where he aims to break his previous time of 11 hours 58 minutes and finish under 11 hours.
Mr Kgomotso Letebele, Project Manager at the Real Estate Management shared that his experience was excellent as his plan was executed well.
“I planned to cross the half marathon at 1 hour 40 minutes which I did. I planned a marathon at 3 hours 30 minutes which I did, and that set me perfectly for my sub 5 hours with ease. I got 4 hours 57 minutes and I am happy with my achievement. I had a training programme to prepare for the Two Oceans Marathon. I did more tempo/quality sessions during the week and moderate to tempo on my long runs during the weekend. However, it was challenging being consistent with the programme as I had to balance it with my work and family responsibilities,” added Mr Letebele.
DUT Sports Officer, Mr Yandisa Mdolomba, congratulated all the athletes for representing the institution with pride. He said their performances provide a strong benchmark ahead of the Comrades Marathon.
“We are encouraged by their performances. Their results show that the athletes are on the right track as we build towards the Comrades Marathon. Beyond the results, their efforts continue to inspire the DUT community and aspiring runners,” said Mdolomba.
Pictured: DUT athletes (from left) Lindokuhle Manyoni, Kgomotso Letebele, Mthobisi Ntuli, Nathi Mhlongo, Colleen Lotz and Wesley Ngcobo at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town.
Simangele Zuma
