'God is in charge' - Kaptein downs Seloyi & Nkhasi to win Two Oceans Half Marathon

Having declared before the race his intention to become the first Capetonian to win the Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon since it was first run in 1998, William Kaptein delivered on his promise this morning. Taking the lead just after the 3km mark, the Tymebank Langa Athletic Club top runner never relinquished it despite a spirited chase from reigning SA Marathon and 10km champion Bennet Seloyi, two-time former winner Namakoe Nkhasi and SA 10 000m silver medalist Cwenga Nose.

"It's an honour for me to win this race today. It wasn't the plan to win the race this year, but it just shows you that you are not in charge of your plans, God is in charge. After I ran a 29 minute 10km in early March, my coach Ernie Gruhn and I decided that we were going to come for the Two Oceans and we are going to win it," he told the livestream presenter Thato Moeng during his post-race interview moments after crossing the finish line.

An ecstatic Kaptein celebrates as he crosses the Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon finish line a mere two seconds ahead of Seloyi. Photo Credit: Two Oceans Media.

Smiling all through the race as he saluted the local supporters and Western Province Athletics (WPA) marshals who cheered him on enthusiastically, the 32-year-old hung on for the biggest victory of his career as he breasted the finishing tape in 1:04:41 which was just two thrilling seconds ahead of Seloyi, eight ahead of Nkhasi and only fifteen seconds before fourth placed Nose crossed the finish line at the UCT Rugby Fields. Kaptein says he drew the strength to hang on as he was chased down from the scores of Cape fans that encouraged him from start to finish.

“I just want to say to thank all my supporters out there on social media, in the Cape Town area, in the Boland and from Robertson for all the love and encouragement that you have showed me. I did this one for all of you. You must understand that a lot of people will write you off the moment you are not doing well. I don't need a sponsor to make me run faster or tell me that I am good enough. We are definitely going to come back next year to do better and go for the record."

Mercy Jebet Korir dominated the women's race. Photo Credit: ABPhotoZ.

Although his finishing time leaves him less than two minutes outside the course record of 1:02:54 run by Zimbabwe’s Cuthbert Nyasango in the year 2006, Kaptein's official 2025 finishing time will not be eligible for any record purposes because race organisers were forced to shorten the distance on the morning of the race to avoid a dog leg which means that runners completed roughly 20,5km instead of 21.1km.

While the additional 500 or so metres may have made a difference to the final placings in the men's race, not so in the women's race. Competing in her first race outside her native Kenya, Mercy Jebet Korir led from gun to tape to win in 1:17:06. Maxed Elite Running Club's Nthabiseng Letokoto of Lesotho produced her first podium finish of a major South African road race as she claimed second in 1:19:15, as did Busisiwe Chamane who ran 1:19:38 to improve on the sixth place she attained last year.