In his debut appearance at the Versus Road Run Party in Stellenbosch over the weekend, William Kaptein took first place, crossing the finish line in 1:05:12.
William Kaptein crosses the finish line at the Versus Road Run Party. PHOTO: Grace Henderson
At the race, held on Saturday 21 February, the 33-year-old completed the 21.1km race at an average pace of 3:06 min/km. “Last year, I said to myself, ‘I have to come’. The vibe is great and […] I wanted to be a part of it,” said Kaptein, a resident of Lansdowne, Cape Town. “I am a born runner in the Boland area, so this is kind of home to me.”
Kaptein, who won last year’s Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon with a time of 1:04:41, described this latest victory as a stepping stone toward his next win. “We’re getting ready for the Two Oceans to defend my half marathon title,” he said. “Therefore, we need to push the body to prepare. I’m just putting my body to the test.”
William Kaptein after his win at the Versus Road Run Party. PHOTO: Grace Henderson
“It really is incredible,” exclaimed Gregory Pechey, a fourth-year civil engineering student at Stellenbosch University (SU) and a fellow participant. “By the time he [Kaptein] finished, I had just passed the 10km mark.” Seth Scott, a fourth-year BSc student in conservation and ecology at SU, nodded in agreement. “His race was so impressive. I’m really happy for a Western Cape local to have won,” Scott added.
Hosted by Versus Socks, the sold-out event saw an entry of 7 500 runners. With the Coetzenburg Sport Fields as both start and finish, runners were taken through the streets of Stellenbosch and its surrounding winelands. “I am very familiar with the route and I have to say the route is not that easy,” said Kaptein. “In the beginning you start very flat off and then suddenly after six or seven kilometers you start to climb and the climbing doesn’t stop.”
A group of runners nearing the finish line at Coetzenburg Sport Fields. PHOTO: Grace Henderson
The athlete, originating from Robertson, noted that his success is largely attributed to prioritising recovery and rest. “My training programme is quite plain and simple. I train seven days a week, twice a day. […] As for maintaining pace, it’s not that difficult for me because I have natural speed,” he added.
Kaptein’s 21 February victory reflects his strong preparation for the upcoming Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon on 12 April, but serves as a reminder that there is still work to be done. “We’re trying to get better this year, aiming for a sub-62-min PB [personal best],” Kaptein confirmed.