The 2025 edition of the Orange Phikwe National Marathon came to a resounding end on Saturday morning at Sam Sono Stadium in Selebi-Phikwe, with Lazarus Too and Mema Tiango emerging as the biggest winners in the 42.2km marathon.
Braving the chilly morning, Too, a Kenyan national based in Mmankgodi, crossed the finish line first in the men’s 42.2km category with a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 4 seconds, clinching the P30,000 prize. The 34-year-old was closely followed by Tshepo Mathibelle (2:03:13), while 29-year-old Prosper Mutirwa secured third place at 2:05:22—confirming the dominance of foreign nationals in the men’s category.
“The track was very nice. The only challenge was the late start, which made it hot toward the finish. Competition was tough because I had to wait for an hour before I could start pushing,” said Too, adding that he will now take a break and focus on half marathons.
Local athlete Godiraone Nthompe narrowly missed the podium, settling for fourth place with a time of 2:05:34. Another elite marathoner, Sesebo Matlapeng, finished 8th with a time of 2:16:17.
In the women’s 42.2km race, Botswana Defence Force Athletics Club’s runner Mema Tiango took first place, clocking in at 3 hours and 49 seconds. The 33-year-old earned P30,000, while Lesedinyana and Oratile Mhlauli secured second and third positions respectively.
“I really want to appreciate my coach, Godiraone Nthompe, who pushed me hard. Since 2019 I’ve been struggling, but now I’m back. The track was good, so I can’t complain. The competition didn’t shake me; I just stuck to the race plan,” said an elated Tiango.
The marathon featured four race categories: 42.2km, 21.1km, 10km, and a 5km fun run, drawing an overwhelming 2,200 entries.
