12/06/2026
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For Walter Sisulu Public Health lecturer Xolelwa Ntlongweni, promoting healthy living extends far beyond the classroom. Through her actions and commitment, she strives to inspire students and colleagues alike as she prepares for South Africaโs most celebrated race, the Comrades Marathon.
The upcoming race on Sunday, 14 June, her second consecutive run, marks a significant milestone not only in Ntlongweniโs personal running journey but also in the universityโs sporting history, as she becomes the first athlete to compete officially under the banner of the newly established Walter Sisulu Athletics Club.
A PhD candidate, researcher, and academic in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ntlongweniโs passion for running was ignited long before she entered organised races.
Growing up in Mdantsane, she recalls running from her home in NU13 to Fort Jackson Train Station alongside friends - a simple pastime that would eventually evolve into a remarkable journey steeped in endurance.
โI started small. My first major milestone was running 21 kilometers. Completing that distance gave me confidence and showed me that my limits were much further than I thought,โ she said.
That confidence laid the foundation for increasingly ambitious goals.
In light of this growing ambition, she said: โFrom there, I progressed to 42 kilometers, which was another turning point because it taught me about endurance, consistency, and mental toughness. After that came 50km races, then 56km races. Each race built my confidence, strengthened my discipline, and prepared me mentally and physically for the next challenge.โ
Now preparing for one of the world's most demanding ultra-marathons, Ntlongweni acknowledges that success has required immense sacrifice and unwavering commitment.
โUltra-marathon training demands consistency, discipline, and long hours on the road, often very early in the morning,โ she said. โThere were days when exhaustion would set in, but I still had to show up and trust the process. Mentally, the biggest challenge was overcoming self-doubt.โ
Balancing the demands of academia, research, and rigorous training schedules has tested her resilience, yet it has also reinforced the values she hopes to impart to her students, these being perseverance, discipline, and a commitment to personal well-being.
Representing Walter Sisulu as the first official runner of the institutionโs newly formed running club adds further significance to the occasion.
โBeing the first-ever Walter Sisulu Athletics Club member to participate in the Comrades Marathon is both humbling and emotional. It is an honour to represent the university on such a prestigious platform and to help lay the foundation for a culture of running and wellness within our institution,โ said Ntlongwane.
Reflecting on the milestone, Butterworth Campus Sports Manager Yonela Ntongana, one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Walter Sisulu Athletics Club, said the initiative was born out of a growing interest in social running among university staff.
โThere has been a noticeable increase in the number of staff members who are actively involved in running but are affiliated with local running clubs. This highlighted the need for a formal university structure to support, unite, and grow this community within the institution,โ said Ntongana.
She added that the club is open to both staff and students and offers structured training programs, coaching support, and competitive opportunities.
Ntongana described Ntlongweniโs Comrades Marathon participation as a proud milestone for both the club and the university, marking the club's official debut on one of South Africaโs biggest sporting stages.
