Zithulele Sinqe
Zithulele Sinqe (9 June 1963 – 22 December 2011[1]) was a South African long distance runner.
Biography
He was born in Mthatha.[2] In the 1980s, and despite restrictions under Apartheid, Sinqe emerged as one of the leading marathon and half-marathon athletes in the world.[3] His two greatest races were the 1986 South African marathon championships, where he won in 2:08:04 in a titanic struggle with Willie Mtolo, who was second in 2:08:15.[4] and his even closer contest over the half marathon with Matthews Temane in July 1987 in East London. Both men were credited with the same time of 60:11 but Temane was adjudged to have just defeated Sinqe.[5]
In addition to the 1986 South African marathon championships, Sinqe also won the 1987 edition before Willie Mtolo won on two occasions.[6] He competed at the 1992 Olympic marathon without finishing the race.[2] 2:08:04 was also his lifetime best result. In the half marathon he achieved 1:00:11 hours in 1987,[2][7] which was the world's best time that year, jointly with compatriot Matthews Temane.[8] In his later years Sinqe also turned his attention to the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (56 km) which he won in 1996 and 1997 as well as coming 2nd in 1998.[9]
References
- Zithulele Sinqe dies in crash
- "Zithulele Sinqe". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- 1988 South African Athletics Annual
- Lemke, Gary, "Stop the Clock", Business Day Sports Supplement (South Africa), April 2011
- 2011 South African Athletics Annual
- "South African Championships". GBR Athletics. Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- Zithulele Sinqe at World Athletics
- "World Top Performers 1980-2005: Men (Outdoor)". GBR Athletics. Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- "Two Oceans Marathon Runner History". Retrieved 17 March 2014.