“The spectacle that the Two Oceans Marathon creates each year creates a great alignment with our brand slogan, ‘Movement that inspires’, and it’s been fitting that the world’s most beautiful marathon has been supported by a car brand renowned for design over the past two years,” comments Paul Turnbull, CEO, Kia South Africa. “We celebrate the success of Onalenna and Gerda in this year’s race and applaud their indomitable spirit that erases all mental and physical limits. With our leading unlimited kilometre warranty, we’re confident that the Kia vehicles they drive will perfectly complement their lifestyles and achievements.”

From Taung to the world

A total of 12,229 runners were at the start line of the 2024 Two Oceans ultra-marathon, but it was 28-year-old Onalenna Khonkobe, from the Sekhing village outside Taung in the North West Province, who took the ultimate glory in this year’s ultra-marathon by finishing in 3:09:30. A member of the Nedbank Running Club and managed by Nick Bester and coached by Pio Mpolokeng , Khonkobe’s win makes him the first South African to win the men’s race since 2019. Last year’s winner, Givemore Mudzinganyama, finished in third place this year after Lloyd Bosman.

Khonkobe has been running since he was in primary school, showing immense dedication to his career with a rigorous training schedule that includes two sessions daily, except on Sundays. He also participated in this year’s Comrades Marathon, but in the capacity of pacesetter for his team. A humble runner with a great sense of humour, Khonkobe described his Comrades race to the Taung Daily News as a strategic play, highlighting that he didn’t train for the race and planned to simply bolt like a rabbit being chased by a lion from the start of the race. The strategy worked: not only did Khonkobe reach the halfway mark in a record-breaking time, his team mates went on to clinch the top three spots.

“I am happy and truly blessed to have the gift of running, and I’m honoured to be driving a brand-new Kia for the next year,” he said upon the receiving the keys to his sponsored Kia Seltos 1.5 CRDi EX Plus. “My thanks goes to Kia South Africa for this prize, and also to Nick Bester and the team at the Nedbank Running Club. I will be doing my best to defend my win next year!”

South Africa’s long distance running queen

Gerda Steyn has for several years been considered the undisputed queen of long-distance running, and this year secured this position with her fifth consecutive Two Oceans Marathon win. Steyn finished this year’s 56km route in 3:26:54, decimating her own 2023 record of 3:29:06, in the process becoming the first athlete to achieve such massive success. As in 2023, Steyn continued to also win the 2024 Comrades Marathon – for the second consecutive year – in 5:49:46.

Steyn grew up on a farm near Bothaville in the Free State, where she matriculated before qualifying as a quantity surveyor at the University of the Free State. She moved to Dubai in 2014 and, in an attempt to meet more people and make new friends, joined a running club. This decision was a critical moment in her life as she serendipitously discovered a love – and talent – for running. The long-distance bug took hold after competing in the 2015 Dubai Marathon, and in the same year, she completed the Comrades Marathon for the first time, finishing in 56th position with a time of 8:19:08. It was at this race that she met Nick Bester, the 1991 winner, who became her coach.

Gerda is still based in Dubai, where her husband, Duncan Ross, works as a pilot, but spends as much time as possible in South Africa. Kia South Africa assists with a vehicle for her use whenever she is in the country.

“I am now into my second year with Kia after crossing the line in first place again this year, and I’m extremely appreciative for their support,” comments Steyn. “I have been thoroughly impressed by the quality and amount of features on the vehicles. I have had the pleasure of driving both the Sportage and Seltos, but beyond that, I got to know the people behind the brand, who are as passionate about Kia as I am about my running! I am truly grateful to have a such a wonderful brand behind me with every step of the way. I always feel confident driving the Kia and now I have an added incentive to make sure that I perform as my very best on race day.”