MASERU – A barefooted local athlete Ramolefi Motsieloa on Sunday made good time and finished fifth at the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon in Johannesburg, clocking in 2:19:22.
sports
Nov. 4, 2019
OWN CORRESPONDENT
2 min read
Motsieloa runs Soweto Marathon barefooted
athletes in the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon
The marathoner defied all odds including the scorching heat and ran the 42.2km race shoeless.
LAF secretary general Makara Thilinyane said they were surprised to see the athlete running barefooted in the race.
However, Thilinyane said there was nothing new or wrong in that, adding that a similar incident occurred at the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championships in Beijing, China in the 1500 and 5000 metre races.
Thilinyane quoted the IAAF rule 143.2 which reads “Athletes may compete barefooted or with foot wear on one or both feet. The purpose of the shoes for competition is to give protection and stability to the feet and a firm grip on the ground.
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“Such shoes, however, must not be constructed so as to give athletes any unfair assistance or advantage,” the rule says.
Another Lesotho athlete, Lebenya Nkoka appeared sixth in 2:19:36 while fellow country man Jobo Khatoane made it in ninth position.
In the women's category, Lesotho's Lineo Chaka clocked in 2:57:58 on position eight while Nteboheleng Lets'ela appeared 10th in 3:00:51.
The overall winner of the marathon was an Ethiopian athlete who pocketed R250 000.
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