(07/11/2004)

Lesotho-born Mabothile Lebopo has won the 2004 Old Mutual Soweto Marathon after a clinical finish in the sprawling south western township.

The 30-year-old Rustenburg resident claimed the winners purse of 50,000 South African Rand after destroying a top quality field in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 05 seconds.

Zimbabwe's defending champion Elijah Mutandiro took the second place in 2:18:54 whilst Tanzanian Jumane Boki was third in 2:19:10.

But, Lebopo hardly had time to celebrate his victory after he learnt his three-month old daughter, Relebohile, has been taken to the hospital with a heart complaint.

He said: "I feel good about my win but I am very worried about my daughter, she is still so small.

"I will be going home to Maseru tomorrow to be with my family.

"Winning this race is a dream come true for me, this is my third Soweto Marathon, in my first run I was second in 2002 (2:19:50) and then fourth (2:19:23) last year, so winning has made all that effort worthwhile."

Defending women's champion Charne Rademeyer (LNAC) became the third person to pull off a double win when she ran most of the way unchallenged to clock 2:48:32 for the R50,000 first prize.

She defeated compatriots Dimakatso Morobi and Louisa Leballo.