When the defending champion declares war and a four-time winner emerges from the shadows, you know Sunday’s half marathon is going to be absolute blockbuster.
The Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon powered by BYD is about to witness a collision of generations on 12 April, Bennett Seloyi, the reigning champion with fire in his belly and a title to protect, against Stephen Mokoka, the 41-year-old legend whose CV reads like a greatest hits album of South African distance running. Add a field bristling with quality including Thabang Mosiako, the in-form George Kusche, and local hero Anthony Timotheus, and you’ve got the recipe for one of the most compelling 21km battles the Mother City has seen in years.
Seloyi isn’t mincing words about his intentions. The Boxer Athletics Club star, who torched the field at altitude with a stunning 2:13:22 victory at the Diamonds and Dorings Kimberley Big Hole Marathon last November, knows exactly what awaits him on the Cape Peninsula’s iconic route.
“To be honest it’s going to be tough. Very, very tough,” Seloyi admits. “I know the lineup is very tough, but I’m going to defend my title. If I don’t win, I must at least finish in the top three. If you know, you know.”
That last line carries weight, the kind of quiet confidence that comes from knowing you’ve put in the work, from understanding that when the gun fires and the suffer-fest begins, preparation is the only currency that matters.
The return of royalty
Whilst Seloyi represents the hungry young gun defending his turf, Stephen Mokoka embodies something altogether different, history, legacy, and the kind of staying power that turns good athletes into legends. South Africa’s second-fastest half marathoner of all time (59:36) returns to the 21km distance for the first time since claiming third place in 2019, and his presence alone elevates the event.
Mokoka isn’t just another decorated runner, he’s Blue Number Club royalty, an honour reserved for those who’ve completed the race at least ten times or, in his case, won the Half Marathon three times or more. With four victories to his name, the Hollywood Athletics Club icon has earned that coveted BNC status the hard way.
His relationship with the race began in 2009 when, as a relative unknown, he destroyed the field on debut with a 1:03:42 victory that defeated established names like Lusapho April and Tshamano Setone. It was a coming-of-age performance that announced a new generation of South African distance runners to the national stage, and Mokoka has been delivering the goods ever since.
“When I first did it, I saw how people go for their Easter holidays and support their families on the road,” Mokoka reflects with genuine warmth. “The support we get from the crowd is amazing. I’ve won it four times and finished third once. The short cut to getting a Blue Number is to win it three times. So, I was very happy to realise that I have a Blue Number. It’s historic as well. It means a lot.”
The strategic play
Mokoka’s decision to drop from the 56km ultra, which he tackled in 2024 and 2025, back to the half marathon isn’t a retreat; it’s a calculated chess move. With the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon looming on 24 May, the former 50km World Record holder needs to gauge his fitness levels, and the Two Oceans Half Marathon provides the perfect test.
“It’s part of preparation, but every time you go to a race you must give your A-game,” Mokoka explains with the clarity of someone who’s mastered the art of race strategy. “The Two Oceans Half Marathon is not pancake flat. In fact, the elevation gain of the entire 21km is more or less the same as that of the Cape Town Marathon. So for me it’s a test to see if my body is strong yet. If it’s not strong, then I can come back to training and push a bit of work.”
Don’t mistake this preparation talk for a lack of competitive fire. Mokoka has five gold medals from the event,four victories and one third place, and he’s targeting an unprecedented fifth consecutive podium finish. At 41 years old, where most athletes are content with parkrun PBs and weekend jogs, Mokoka is still mixing it with South Africa’s finest.
“All I’m going to try and do is get a better position. I finished third last time I ran, so I’m hopeful that this time around I’ll finish in a better position.”
When the gun fires at 06:15 on Sunday morning, the script is perfectly set. The young champion with everything to lose. The returning legend with history to make. A field loaded with killers waiting for either to blink.
Seloyi wants to prove last year was no fluke. Mokoka wants to prove age is just a number. And the rest of the field wants to prove they belong in the conversation.
