Multiple SA road and track champion Stephen Mokoka made it a memorable three victories in the Shanghai Marathon in China on Sunday, writes MARK ETHERIDGE.

Mokoka, who represented Team South Africa in the 10,000 metre track event at the Rio Olympics two months ago, won in 2hr 10min 18sec.

That seals a third win after being victorious in 2013 and 2014, while he finished in 2:07:40 last year, unfortunately not even a personal best time able to bring up his hat-trick on that occasion.

A field of more than 20,000 lined up for the event, run in good racing temperatures between 13 and 17 degrees Celsius.

Mokoka told the Shanghai Daily after his victory: ‘It’s my third victory here, though the time was not fast enough,’said Mokoka. ‘The weather was great at the beginning, but the latter part of the race became difficult with the rise of the temperature … I hope to be called to compete here again next year.’

The women’s race was won by Roza Dereje Bekele, the Ethiopian athlete’s time of 2:26:18 just two seconds quicker than Kenyan runner-up Margaret Agai.

Mokoka’s fellow South African, Mapaseka Makhanya, was also in action but no details were immediately available. Last year she ended fourth in 2:37:21.

Picture courtesy of Shanghai Daily