ions.

He asserted himself from as early as the 4km mark to hold off a fierce challenge from the national half-marathon champion, Bennett Seloyi, who finished second, while Lesotho's Namakoe Nhasi ended third.

With the Two Oceans title in the bag after five previous attempts, the 32-year-old Kaptein will make a bid for the upcoming ABSA 10km in Cape Town on Sunday May 11.

“Look I guess I will savor the moment of winning the half marathon and then turn my attention to the ABSA series where I hope to go under 29 minutes. This victory has given me renewed energy and hope, but I also have a long-term goal and that is to qualify for the marathon at the 2028 Olympic Games in America.

“I was out for a long time, due to personal issues and circumstances. But I was so confident that I was going to win because I was so ready. I felt that I had trained enough, and I just knew I would win. As early as the 4km mark I decided to go for it and here I am. I’m so delighted,” said Kaptein.

He added that he enjoyed great support from Endurocad, a Stellenbosch-based programme in 2015, and from his coach, Ernie Gruhn.

“He always believed in me and taught me to believe in myself. And I believed I was going to win today.”

The men’s ultra-marathon over 56km, which was held on Saturday, was won by Lesotho’s Khoarahlane Seutloali in 3:10:46 while South Africa’s Gerda Steyn (3:29:10), clinched her sixth woman’s title in succession.

27:T66a,The 32-year-old road runner, originally from Robertson, finished in a time of 01hr04min41sec over a course which was shortened by 500m (20.6 km) due to the prevailing hot conditions. He asserted himself from as early as the 4km mark to hold off a fierce challenge from the national half-marathon champion, Bennett Seloyi, who finished second, while Lesotho's Namakoe Nhasi ended third. With the Two Oceans title in the bag aft

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Oceans half marathon winner Kaptein sets sail for Olympic dream