JMC 2025 | record obliterated
- Owen Middleton
- May 20
- 5 min read
The 2025 Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge, in partnership with WWF South Africa, was held on Saturday 17th May. The day unfolded under pristine late-autumn Cape skies, offering runners ideal conditions to tackle the rugged tracks and trails of the Jonkershoek valley and surrounding mountains.
The crown jewel of this event is the 38km Classic, with over 1,950m of vertical height gain in some pretty gnarly but spectacular mountain terrain. The most popular distance is the 21.5km ‘Half’, with its fast but hilly course, complete with over 650m of vertical height gain. Then there are two shorter distances, namely the 12.5km ‘Aspire’ and the 5km ‘Micro’.
Photo gallery: https://www.mountainchallenge.co.za/copy-of-2024
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🏃♂️ 21.5km Half: Marais sets a new bar
Typical. Just when you start to wonder if faster is possible, it happens. Not only did it happen, it caught us all totally off-guard.
You see, at the half-way mark this particular sneaky record breaker was four minutes off the pace at the same point in the race as the existing record holder. Well that’s the short of it, and our somewhat lame excuse for missing it at the finish - but you know there was a lot of action and distraction at the finish line. Did someone say SQUIRELL? (If you haven’t seen the cartoon movie ‘UP’, or know Sean, we accept this might be lost on you…)
Now, journos love to yield big clouty kinds of words around to get more clickthroughs and reads, but in this case using the word ‘obliterated’, when referring to this total annihilation of the previous record time, is totally fitting.
So here is the low down: Then elite trail runner, now turned elite pro cyclist, Hayley Preen set a 1:47:00 back in 2022, shaving a healthy 49 seconds of the year before record-setter Lijan van Niekerk. Hayley’s pace averaged an impressive 4:57 /km, running at an average of 4:50 /km on the way up and 4:27 /km on the way down. Fast forward to 2025 and standing on the start line was hereto unknown (to us) surprise running rocket ship Ebeth Marais.
As we stood at the finish line, observing the split time data coming in on the FinishTime timing system, we observed Ebeth clocking in at the 11km mark, four minutes behind record time, in a still very respectable 57:18. At 5:15/km, her then predicted finish time was looking like something in the region of a 1:49:00, given the uphill was over and it was mostly down to the finish.
But no, Ebeth had other ideas, changed up a gear or two and cranked on the afterburners across the ‘Twin Traverse’ and down the switch backs of ‘Irish’ and ‘Iron Monkey’. In fact, for the second ‘half’ of the race Ebeth averaged 3:58 /km - or 1:14 /km faster than the first 11km. Granted, the first 11km has 98% of the 660m of vertical height gain, so slower is of course expected, but still, that conversion is staggering.
And so it was that coming flying along the forested ‘Dentist’ trail, and around the corner into the finish straight was a very focussed and elated Ebeth Marais, her time 1:39:28. A full 7:32 faster than Hayleys’ 2022 time, logging an average pace of 4:36 /km. An obliteration!
The only person ahead of Ebeth was Lukas van der Merwe, who took line honours in 1:36:23. This is just shy of seven minutes slower than the record time of 1:27:58 set by Llewellyn Groeneveld in 2020, but is still a commanding time. Second and third place went to Nicholas and Eduan Burger respectively.
Lanah Nel and Leani Potgieter had their own battle raging for the last two steps on the the ladies 21.5km podium. Potgieter had been leading Nel by just shy of three minutes at the 11km mark, but Nel put the hammer down in the second half, passing Potgieter and finishing with just under a minute advantage.
🏔️ 38km Classic: Kapito powers through in style
Malawian born Alick Kapito showed why he was placed 7th at UTCT 35km last year, with a dominant line honours in the 38km. Hot on his heels was the trio of Patrick Cameron-Smith, Chesney Huskisson and Andrew Whiley.
At the 17.3km mark (Kurktrekker), Kapito had opened up a 6 min lead, with Cameron-Smith in 2nd - who in turn was 75 seconds ahead of Huskisson and Whiley. At the 27km mark, and with the big mountain trails firmly behind, Kapito had extended to hold a firm 9
minute lead on Cameron-Smith - who had himself also extended on the chasing duo to four minutes. Huskisson had eeked out a 41 second lead on Whiley at this same point.
There was no catching Kapito from here, although Cameron-Smith did manage to pull back a minute on the faster open MTO trails. Kapito broke the tape in 3:47:25. Huskisson pushed home for second, extending his lead on Whiley to around a minute and half at the line. Incidentally, this is Cameron-Smith second 2nd place finish in the 38km in a row!
In the ladies battle, it was experience that dominated the show, with Kerry-Ann Marshall taking the win, and crossing the line 6th overall. Marshall had pulled out a commanding 15 minute lead over 2nd Uta Lehmann and 3rd place Veron Grobler. Lehmann and Grobler exchanging places between Bergriviernek and Langrivierkloof, with Lehmann haulling in what was a three minute lead by Grobler, and holding a narrow 11 second lead at the 27km aid station. By the finish Lehmann had extended this to over three minutes.
🏃🏽 12.5km ‘Aspire’: Wilson and Snethlage rule
Just three seconds separated the top two in the fast and furious 12.5km ‘Aspire’, with Finley Wilson managing to stay ahead of Lambert Brink to the line, with a 53:06 winning time. Joshua Bransgrove secured third. Incidentally, Brink finished 4th in 2023, 3rd in 2024 and now 2nd in 2025. Could 2026 be his year?
Caitlin Snethlage totally dominated the ladies race, finishing in 6th overall in a time of 1:00:41. Mariska Thorpe took 2nd and Juddith Goddard 3rd.
🏃🏽 5km ‘Micro’: a new addition to the mix
This fun 5km was 95% single track, combining the best of ‘Dentist’, ‘Canary’ and ‘Yellowwood’ trails. Ricarlo Loots took line honours in 31:54, with Seana Austin claiming the ladies win - and a top 3 finish to boot - in a time of 37:58.
Photo gallery: https://www.mountainchallenge.co.za/copy-of-2024
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