Zithulele Sinqe (9 June 1963 – 22 December 2011) was a South African long distance runner.

Biography

He was born in

Mthatha Mthatha ( , ), alternatively rendered Umtata, is the main city of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa and the capital of OR Tambo District Municipality. The city has an airport, previously known ...

. In the 1980s, and despite restrictions under

apartheid Apartheid ( , especially South African English: , ; , ) was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. It was characterised by an ...

, Sinqe emerged as one of the leading marathon and half-marathon athletes in the world. 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. and his even closer contest over the half marathon with Matthews Temane in July 1987 in

East London East London is the part of London, England, east of the ancient City of London and north of the River Thames as it begins to widen. East London developed as London Docklands, London's docklands and the primary industrial centre. The expansion of ...

. Both men were credited with the same time of 60:11 but Temane was adjudged to have just defeated Sinqe. In addition to the 1986 South African marathon championships, Sinqe also won the 1987 edition before Willie Mtolo won on two occasions. He competed at the 1992 Olympic marathon without finishing the race. 2:08:04 was also his lifetime best result. In the

half marathon A half marathon is a road running event of —half the distance of a marathon. It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or a 5K race, using almost the same course with a late start, an early finish, or shortcu ...

he achieved 1:00:11 hours in 1987, which was the world's best time that year, jointly with compatriot Matthews Temane. He won the

Detroit Free Press Marathon The Detroit Free Press Marathon is a race run every third Sunday in October in Detroit, Michigan, United States, and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, since 1978. The marathon course is international and has featured the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel for all ...

in 1998. 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.

References

1963 births 2011 deaths Sportspeople from Mthatha Athletes from the Eastern Cape South African male long-distance runners South African male marathon runners Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics Olympic athletes for South Africa Road incident deaths in South Africa South African ultramarathon runners 20th-century South African sportsmen {{SouthAfrica-athletics-bio-stub