Ngconde Matwebu and Cacisile Sosibo celebrated breakthrough victories after claiming their first senior national half-marathon titles and securing automatic selection for the World Athletics Road Running Championships at the ASA Road Running Championships in Gqeberha on Saturday.
Held in conjunction with the Nelson Mandela Bay Half-Marathon, the championships served as South Africa’s trials for September’s global showpiece in Copenhagen, with automatic places on offer for athletes who finished in the qualifying positions while achieving the required standards.
Matwebu produced the performance of his career, finishing second overall behind Kenyan Rogers Murei but taking the South African title in a personal best 1:01:57. His victory spearheaded a KwaZulu-Natal Athletics clean sweep of the national podium, with Cwenga Nose earning silver in 1:02:17 and Pontsho Motaung taking bronze in 1:02:33.
Cacisile Sosibo (155), on her way to win the 2026 women’s 21.1km crown at the 2026 ASA Road Running Championships at Pollock Beach on Saturday 27 June 2026 in Gqeberha, South Africa.
The newly crowned champion described the victory as the reward for years of perseverance after battling injuries.
“I think this was the best race of my career because I’ve been struggling with injuries for the last three years and I haven’t been myself, so I’m glad I’m picking up now and I think this is just the beginning,” Matwebu said.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to be a national champion. I feel like I’m dreaming, but I knew today could be my day because the training has been going well and I came here with confidence and passion, feeling I could do it today.”
His personal best comfortably beat the qualifying standard for Copenhagen and confirmed his place in the South African team. Speaking after the race, Matwebu said he was already looking forward to testing himself against the world’s best.
“The qualifying time was 63 minutes and today I ran 61, so I think I’m going to the World Championships. No choice,” he said, adding that he plans to race at next week’s Absa Run Your City 10K as part of his preparations.
The women’s race was equally competitive, with Sosibo pushing Namibian Lavinia Haitope all the way to the finish. Haitope won the open race in 1:12:36, while Sosibo crossed just two seconds later in 1:12:38 to secure the South African title for Central Gauteng Athletics and comfortably dip under the qualifying mark of 1:13:50.
Karabo More lived up to pre-race expectations by winning the women’s mile to book her place at the World Championships.
Karabo Mailula claimed the national silver medal in 1:15:16, with Samantha Coetzer taking bronze in 1:17:02.
“It was a good race, and it was quick because the weather was fine and the conditions felt comfortable,” Sosibo said. “I don’t know what the plan will be, but I’m going to train hard for the World Athletics Road Running Championships.”
The shorter championship races also delivered impressive performances.
Thapelo Ramokhoase claimed the men’s 5km national title in 13:42 after holding off Athletics Gauteng North teammate Musawenkosi Mnisi by a single second, while Zanthe Taljaard secured the women’s crown in 16:15.
In the mile events, Johannes Morepe won a thrilling sprint finish in the men’s race, while pre-race favourite Karabo More lived up to expectations by storming to victory in the women’s contest.
Based on their performances, Matwebu, Nose, Sosibo, Ramokhoase and More all secured automatic selection for the South African team that will compete at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen in September, capping a memorable day for the country’s top road runners.
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