Vincent Rakabaele

Arguably the finest runner to ever come from Lesotho, Vincent Rakabaele first came to prominence in ultra-marathon events. He was the first black runner to win the 56 km Two Oceans Marathon in Capetown, South Africa and competed with distinction in South Africa’s other classic long distance race, the 90 km Comrades Marathon.

Most of Rakabaele’s running was done in South Africa and he won the South Africa Marathon on three occasions (1976, 1979 and 1982). His best time of 2-11:44, set at the Inter-Provincial Marathon at Port Elizabeth in 1982, ranked him amongst the world’s top twenty for the year. He twice represented Lesotho in the Olympic marathon with a best performance of 36th in Moscow. Although his death was not reported until much later he is believed to have died in 2003.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-11:44 (1982).