Picture credit: Anton Geyser for Athletics South Africa
Team South Africa will leave Botswana with two silver medals, US$40,000 in prize money and three new national records after the World Relays came to an end in Gaborone on Sunday.
The fierce rivalry between the host nation and the South Africans delivered a dramatic 4x400m final with Botswana getting the upper hand this time around.
The team of Lee Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Collen Kebinatshipi delivered the perfect ending to the championships, sparking wild celebrations in the passionate home crowd. They crossed the finish line in a new championship record of 2 minutes 54.47 seconds with the South Africans taking over two and a half seconds off their previous national record to secure the silver in 2:55.07.
The massive SA record was due in large part to Pillay’s unprecedented split of 42.66 in the second leg, making him the fastest ever in 4x400m relay history.
Earlier in the afternoon, SA’s men’s 4x100m team of Mvuyo Moss, Cheswill Johnson, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine had set the tone by securing the silver behind the USA (37.43), also in a new national record.
Their new SA and African record of 37.49 eclipsed the record set by Bayanda Walaza, Shaun Maswanganyi, Nkoana and Simbine on their way to Olympic silver in Paris in 2024.
Simbine stormed past several teams down the home straight and just ran out of metres to overtake the USA’s Pjai Austin, who had the South African star hot on his heels.
The third SA record of the championship belonged to the SA women’s 4x100m team of Viwe Jingqi, Kayla la Grange, Gabriella Marais and Joviale Mbishe, who didn’t manage to reach the final but still had plenty to celebrate after breaking the 26-year-old record in the heats in a time of 43.22 seconds.
The other notable performance came from the mixed 4x400m team of Gardeo Isaacs, Rogail Joseph, Bradley Maponyane and Marlie Viljoen.
Despite running close to the SA record in the heats, they just missed out on a place in the final but made the most of their second chance to qualify for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing in Sunday’s repechage, where they needed a top-two finish.
They crossed the line first, winning in 3:12.77 to book their tickets to China alongside the SA men’s 4×100 and 4x400m squads. By reaching their respective finals, the SA men’s squads have also secured their qualification at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest this September.
See It Againcantered straight into racing folklore, completing a redemption arc as dramatic as a last-furlong swoop from the clouds when he won the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met (Gr 1) over 2000m on Saturday, 31 January 2026.
The 6-year-old, sent off a confident 5/2, travelled like a horse rediscovering his old rhythm. When jockey Andrew Fortune angled him into daylight in the straight, See It Again lengthened stride with the smooth authority of a champion finally back in tune. He held the relentless late surge of 33/1 outsider Legal Counsel by three-quarters of a length, with The Real Prince flashing briefly from the rear before flattening out into third. Okavango, who had dictated a muddling tempo, boxed on gamely for fourth.
It was a training masterclass from Justin Snaith, who saddled the first, second and fourth, underlining his dominance on a day when his yard fired like a well-oiled starting gate. The runner-up was ridden by Aldo Domeyer, Fortune’s son. It was a poignant subplot in a race rich with narrative.
Veteran jockey Andrew Fortune on See It Again celebrates his remarkable victory at World Sports Betting Cape Town Met in Kenilworth on Saturday Photo’s: Supplied
For See It Again, this victory snapped a 454-day win drought. Once brilliant at three and four, the son of Twice Over had been written off after behavioural issues at the gates blunted his spark. Critics had labelled him “past it”. Snaith disagreed.
The trainer credited the calmer environment at his Philippi base and the work of behaviourist Malan du Toit for helping reset the horse’s mindset. The signs were already there: gritty third-place finishes in the Green Point Stakes (Gr 2) and L’Ormarins King’s Plate hinted that the engine was humming again.
Fortune, who nicknamed him “Champy”, had been feeling it too. Working the horse daily, he forged a bond built on trust and patience, virtues Fortune himself had to relearn. The veteran jockey’s comeback is as remarkable as the horse’s. After battling addiction, weight issues, suspensions and rejection, he once admitted at his lowest ebb that “no one wanted me.”
Now re-admitted in his late 50s, Fortune is riding like a man reborn. His handling of See It Again was cool, balanced and perfectly judged from the hands of a jockey who knows both the cost of mistakes and the value of second chances.
Owner Mr N Jonsson added another chapter to his own fairytale, landing a fourth consecutive Cape Town Met with four different horses, Jet Dark (2023), Double Superlative (2024), Eight on Eighteen (2025) and now See It Again. He called it “an impossible dream.”
Fortune doubled up earlier when steering Double Grand Slam to victory in the Majorca Stakes (Gr 1) over 1600m. From a wide draw, he read the lack of pace, slid into a stalking role and struck early up the stand-side rail. The mare, a ten-time winner, held off Rainbow Lorikeet by a neck, once again edging out son Aldo in a family photo finish.
Elsewhere on the card, Star Major sprang a 33/1 surprise in the Politician Stakes (Gr 3), patiently ridden by Luyulo Mxothwa to deny Fortune and favourite Happy Verse. Ahead of the Facts crushed the Western Cape Stayers (Gr 3) by three lengths despite a hefty weight turnaround, while Time for Love rediscovered her best to win the Summer Fling Stakes (Gr 3) at 25/1.
A Symphony of Style
High fashion, elite racing and social culture converged in spectacular harmony under the 2026 theme Symphony of Style. Off the track, fashionistas and celebrities enjoyed unrivalled views of the day’s thrills, including the Best Dressed competition and a performance by the Amaballet’s Amavengers, a high-energy dance troupe whose choreography blended classical ballet, Amapiano rhythms, and street dance elements, centring on visual spectacle and musical synergy.
A Symphony of Style – Winners of the Best Dressed Competition
Nina van Dina took first place in the Best Interpretation of the Theme Symphony of Style, Beaia Kgokong from Johannesburg was awarded the Style Icon award, while Sheara Murphy won the Designers’ Choice award, and Best Dressed Crew award went to Kevin Ellis and Tracey Maltman who interpreted the theme to perfection. Ellis and Maltman previously won the Best Dressed Crew award in 2007. All winners walked away with bumper prizes, including a Fieldbar Mini Bar, bottle of Johnnie Walker, R3,000 in sports betting vouchers and more.
But the day belonged to See It Again, a horse once off the bridle of belief, now back in full gallop, reminding the racing world that champions, like jockeys, sometimes just need the reins loosened to fly again.
For more information on the line-up of upcoming events, visit www.racecoast.co.za.
Gqeberha, Eastern Cape – Glenrose Xaba once again turned the SPAR Women’s Challenge into her personal racetrack on Saturday morning, streaking down Marine Drive like a sprinter on rails to seize her fourth straight victory of the 2025 Grand Prix Series and, with it, another chapter of history.
The Boxer Athletic Club dynamo, nicknamed “SuperCharger” for the way she ignites races with a sudden burst of speed stopped the clock at a searing 31:57, her white cap bobbing like a beacon at the head of the pack as she tore through the Windy City air.
She sliced the tape ahead of Hollywood Athletics Club’s Tayla Kavanagh (32:01), while Ethiopia’s Diniya Abaraya (32:04) , clad in Nedbank green, clung on for third.
GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA – SEPTEMBER 27: Glenrose Xaba (L) , Diniya Abaraya and Tayla Kavanagh of Hollywood (R) during the 2025 SPAR Women’s Grand Prix 10km Challenge at Pollok Beach in Gqeberha. Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images)
Glenrose has now sprinted into an unassailable 115-point lead with one race to spare, making next weekend’s Johannesburg leg little more than a victory lap.
She becomes the first black South African athlete to win the SPAR Grand Prix three times, adding her name once more to a glittering roll call that includes Rene Kalmer, Irvette van Zyl, Namibia’s Helalia Johannes and Ethiopia’s Tadu Nare.
On a crisp morning made for fast times, Glenrose toed the line looking refreshed, having chosen to sidestep Wednesday’s Absa RUN YOUR CITY Joburg 10K. When the gun fired, she immediately leaned into the race like a runner unwilling to wait for destiny.
Her usual rival Selam Gebre tried to shadow her stride for stride, joined by Abaraya, and for a while the trio ran in formation, as though the podium had already been sketched in pencil.
But Gebre, her legs heavy from a fourth-place finish at the Buenos Aires Marathon earlier this month, faltered once Glenrose pressed the accelerator.
Resplendent in her trademark white cap, Glenrose’s surge was as decisive as it was devastating down the home straight.
The contest for gold was over; the race had become a chase for silver. Kavanagh, digging into her reserves with the grit of a runner who refused to fade, clawed her way past Abaraya to snatch second.
For Glenrose, the victory was all the sweeter because she had not felt at her sharpest.
“I was not 100 percent. My body was not responding well,” she admitted afterwards.
“The course was very fast. Last year I ran a course record. Today I did 31 high because my body was not responding well. I tried my best to push my pace, but I could not push much.
“But I told myself, ‘Let me keep the pace’ and then in the last three kilometres I said, ‘let me give myself a push’.”
And push she did, storming home to the delight of the Gqeberha crowd and swelling her bank balance with a R200 000 payday for clinching the overall Grand Prix prize.
The race itself was a sell-out, with 5 000 runners filling the streets in a celebration of women’s running.
For one lucky participant, it was about more than medals and times: Nomandla Lunguza of Kariega, Uitenhage walked away with a Hyundai EXTER, the fifth vehicle SPAR and Hyundai have given away this season.
“At Hyundai Automotive South Africa, we believe excellence comes in many forms. Whether you are leading the race or simply showing and giving it your all. That is why we are proud to be part of the SPAR Women’s Challenge, where every woman out there is a winner in her own right,” said Stanley Anderson, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa.
“Accordingly, the SPAR Women’s Challenge alignment with the Hyundai EXTER is aimed at highlighting this vehicle’s strength. It is built to handle life’s daily demands with ease and flair. Just like the event itself, the Hyundai EXTER is as versatile and vibrant as the women who inspire us every day.”
For Glenrose Xaba, though, the car on Saturday was running on her own high-octane, Supercharged engine.
And with one more race to go, she has already driven her way into history.
Hyundai Exter winner, Nomandla Lunguza, with Clinton Bezuidenhout, Dealer Principal at Hyundai Gqeberha. Photo: Michael Sheehan / Gallo Images
The final leg of the SPAR Grand Prix will take place on Sunday morning, 05 October 2025 at Marks Park Sporting Club in Emmerentia, Johannesburg.
The 27-year-old from the Boxer Athletic Club made history by claiming his fourth straight win in the 2025 series becoming the first runner to achieve this feat since the launch of the series in 2015.
Like a seasoned tactician, Mulaudzi bided his time in the pack before unleashing a late surge down Rahima Moosa Street, raising four fingers skyward as he crossed Mary Fitzgerald Square in triumph.
He clocked a blistering 28 minutes and 39 seconds. Tanzanian Emanuel Dinday chased hard but finished seven seconds adrift in 28:45, while Mulaudzi’s Boxer teammate Bennett Seloyi (28:51) grabbed a career-first podium in third.
“The race was tactical,” admitted Mulaudzi, who eclipsed the old course best by 12 seconds.
He managed to beat Kenyan Gideon Kipngetich 28:51 course record set last year in Joburg.
“Facing athletes of the calibre of Precious Mashele, Thabang Mosiako, Stephen Mokoka and Elroy Gelant was intimidating, but I focused on my race. This has been the best season of my life with four wins in a row, and breaking 28 minutes three times. I’m so grateful to my coach, my club, and my family.”
Elite Men on route at Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K by Tobias Ginsberg
Coach Richard Mayer hailed the series as a springboard for South Africa’s best.
“If it was not for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY races, athletes like Kabelo would need to go overseas for opportunities. This platform is priceless,” he said.
“I’m so glad for him because he is meticulous in his preparation and works extremely hard. He is boy from down the road in Alexandra so it’s great for him to finally get a victory in his hometown.”
In the women’s contest, Karabo Mailula found her golden moment, sprinting clear to claim her maiden women’s title in 33:34.
Karabo Mailula Photo: Tobias Ginsburg.
The 23-year-old Tuks athlete struck early, peeling away from the field after the second kilometre and stretching her lead with every stride. She coasted home more than a minute clear of Kenya’s Florence Nyaingiri (35:17), with Zimbabwean veteran Rutendo Nyahora (36:35) in third.
“It’s always been my dream to win here,” said a jubilant Mailula.
“I knew the course, I trained harder, and today it paid off. I’m grateful to God for this victory.”
With 14,400 runners flooding the streets of the City of Gold in a sea of red, the race became a fitting spectacle and celebration on Heritage Day.
“What better way to mark Heritage Day than with this electric finale to another brilliant season,” said Stillwater Sports founder Michael Meyer.
Absa’s Jabulile Nsibanyoni echoed the sentiment:
“Every runner had their own reason for lacing up today, and together they made it unforgettable. The stories and spirit were as inspiring as the champions themselves.”
RESULTS: 2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K
Date: Wednesday 24 September 2025
Start Time: 08:00
Start Venue: Lilian Ngoyi Street
Finish Venue: Rahima Moosa Street
ELITE MEN
1 Kabelo Mulaudzi (South Africa) 28:39, 2 Emanuel Dinday (Tanzania) 28:45, 3 Bennett Seloyi (South Africa) 28:51, 4 Aklilu Asfaw (Ethiopia) 28:54, 5 Benjamin Ratsim (Tanzania) 28:55, 6 Thabang Mosiako (South Africa) 29:05, 7 Namakoe Nkhasi (Lesotho) 29:12, 8 Stephen Mokoka (South Africa) 29:14, 9 Joseph Seutloali (Lesotho) 29:16, 10 Elroy Gelant (South Africa) 29:19
ELITE WOMEN1 Karabo Mailula (South Africa) 33:44, 2 Florence Nyaingiri (Kenya) 35:17, 3 Rutendo Nyahora (Zimbabwe) 36:35, 4 Naomy Jerono (Kenya) 36:43, 5 Elizabeth Hutamo (South Africa) 36:45, 6 Samantha Coetzer (South Afirca) 36:55, 7 Cacisile Sosibo (South Africa) 37:08, 8 Evas Nasasira (Uganda) 37:21, 9 Violet Mogano (South Africa) 37:38, 10 Elizabeth Chemweno (Kenya) 37:56
Gqeberha is tightening its laces for a record-breaking dash as the sold-out SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge hits the Summerstrand shoreline this Saturday.
All eyes will be on the defending Grand Prix queen Glenrose Xaba, who has already sprinted to three consecutive victories this season and leads the series pack by five points.
The 31-year-old set a spectacular new South African marathon record of 2 hours 22 minutes and 22 seconds on debut at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon last year.
She has continued her brilliant form over the shorter distances in 2025 with victories at the Cape Town, Durban and Tshwane legs Spar Grand Series of 10km races.
Glenrose, affectionately known as Supercharger, is now chasing a place in history, aiming to become the first black women and only the third South African after René Kalmer and Irvette van Zyl to clinch three SPAR Grand Prix crowns.
The gently undulating route in Gqeberha is one of the most scenic of all the SPAR races and fast times can be expected. Glenrose will be going all out for her fourth consecutive victory in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. If she succeeds she willl be rewarded with a whopping R200 000 in prize money.
“I think I can be a role model for black girls,” she says.
“I hope they can see my success and believe they can be successful too.”
But her stride won’t go unchallenged. Ethiopia’s Salem Gebre and Diniya Abaraya, along with rising Tuks flyer Karabo Mailula, are expected to push the pace.
Selam Gebre
Meanwhile, Pietermaritzburg champion Tayla Kavanagh, fresh off a sizzling 31:53 personal best, could be the surprise sprint down the home stretch.
Tayla Kavanaugh
The race, starting and finishing at Pollok Beach, offers one of the flattest, fastest, and most scenic circuits in the series. It’s perfect terrain that sets the stage for fireworks on the stopwatch.
Beyond the finish line, the SPAR Women’s Challenge continues to carry a heavier baton. With every step, the race champions women’s empowerment, health, and the fight against gender-based violence, while also driving SPAR’s bold campaign to end period poverty by 2030.
Diniya Abaraya
This weekend, it won’t just be about chasing fast times it’ll be about running toward a future where every women’s stride carries the power of change.
Johannesburg is about to swap its traffic jams for jogging jams when the Boxer Super Run makes its City of Gold debut on Sunday, 9 November 2025, at the iconic Marks Park Sports Club.
Entries open this Friday, 26 September and if Durban’s record sell-out is anything to go by, they’ll vanish quicker than a sprinter out the blocks.
Billed as South Africa’s most social 5km, the race promises a carnival on the run: early-bird striders chasing PBs, charity teams in colourful costumes, and elites set to sprint for podium glory.
Boxer Super Run by Tobias Ginsberg
Like a relay baton, the energy will flow through every wave until the finish village buzzes with medals, music, and laughter.
“It’s going to be a day for runners, families, and friends to celebrate together.”
Boxer Superstores’ Lee-Ann Pillay agrees: “It’s all about energy, fun, and community. Whether you’re running, walking, or cheering, you’re part of the action.”
With performance tees, goodie bags, and medals in store, the Boxer Super Run is set to turn Joburg’s streets into a moving festival. The only question: will you be on the start line or left behind at the tape?
Boxer Super Run by Tobias Ginsberg
EVENT INFORMATION: 2025 Boxer Super Run Joburg
Date:
Sunday 09 November 2025
Distance:
5km
Start Venue:
Marks Park Sports Club
Finish Venue:
Marks Park Sports Club
Event Waves & Start Times:
07:00 / OPEN WAVE (Anyone and everyone, club runners, serious runners, schools, runners who prefer an early start, masses)08:00 – 09:30 / SUPER SOCIAL WAVE (Dress up, groups, company groups, charities, runners who prefer a slightly later start)09:45 / ELITE WOMEN10:00 / ELITE MEN
Minimum Age of Entrant:
9 years old
Entries Open:
Friday 26 September 2025
Entries Close:
Monday, 03 November 2025 or ONCE CAPACITY HAS BEEN REACHED
Entry Includes:
Boxer Super Run Event Performance T-shirtBoxer Super Run Goodie BagRace Number / Timing ChipFantastic On Route ExperienceBoxer Super Run Finisher’s Medal
Johannesburg’s bustling streets will swap weekday traffic for running shoes on Heritage Day, Wednesday 24 September, when theAbsa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10Kbrings the curtain down on the five-race series. From Lilian Ngoyi Street to Rahima Moosa Street, Jozi will echo with the sound of chasing feet and national pride.
Men’s showdown
The men’s race promises fireworks with South Africa’sPrecious Mashele(27:35) determined to strike gold on his favourite kind of course.
“Joburg is never easy … the air is thin, the climbs are tough. But those are the races that bring out my best,” Mashele said.
His main rival is Kabelo Mulaudzi (27:41), who has swept the last three races in Cape Town, Durban and Tshwane. A fourth straight victory would crown him series king.
ButThabang Mosiako(27:45) is also in red-hot form after winning last weekend’s Hollywood Joburg 10K. He believes his hill and speed work have prepared him perfectly.
The 28-year-old is also eyeing next month’sSanlamCape Town Marathon debut, making this race an important test.
Thabang Mosiako Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
They’ll be pushed hard by Ethiopia’s Aklilu Asfaw (28:03) and Lesotho’s Namakoe Nkhasi (27:52), both with the pedigree to spoil the South African party. With so much sub-28 pace, the men’s crown may only be decided in the final lung-busting metres.
Women’s battle
In the women’s race, Lesotho’s Neheng Khatala (31:53) starts as favourite, her strength on the climbs making her a natural fit for Jozi’s altitude.
“I love hard courses. They test not just the body, but the spirit,” Khatala said.
Her closest challengers include South Africa’s Cacisile Sosibo (32:54), Zimbabwe’s Rutendo Nyahora (32:55) and Kenya’s Naomy Jerono (33:28). Expect a close contest, with the decisive move likely on the punishing final stretch down Rahima Moosa Street.
Comrades stars add intrigue
Adding extra spice are Comrades Marathon champions Tete Dijana andEdward “Slender” Mothibi, both trading ultra-distance armour for 10km sharpness. Reigning Comrades Champion Dijana admits he’s using Joburg to test his speed.
“The body is recovering well after Comrades. I use these 10km races to sharpen the legs,” he said.
Race founder Michael Meyer believes their presence underlines the event’s prestige:
“When you see Comrades champions lining up against 10km specialists, it speaks to the depth of our sport.”
A Heritage Day celebration
While the elites chase records, thousands of recreational runners will share the same course, painting the streets red and turning it into a moving tapestry of endurance and unity.
On a day celebrating South Africa’s heritage, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10Kwill be a festival of speed, spirit and pride, as Jozi plays host to one last, spectacular showdown.
Durban’s beachfront is bracing for a tidal wave of colour, rhythm, and record-breaking speed when the Boxer Super Run sprints into its third edition on Sunday, 12 October 2025.
More carnival than competition in its opening laps, the OPEN and SUPER SOCIAL WAVES will paint the promenade in neon energy, before the atmosphere tightens like a starter’s pistol. That’s when the nation’s fastest legs take centre stage, vying for the coveted crowns of King and Queen of the Boxer Super Run.
The event already hums with history. At the inaugural race in 2023, Precious Mashele and Glenrose Xaba tore up the record books, clocking 13:44 and 16:03 – the fastest 5km times ever run by South Africans on home soil. Mashele then went one better in 2024, slicing the stopwatch to 13:39.
ELITE WOMENS WAVE Boxer Super Run Durban by Gavin Ryan
“This year, all eyes will be on whether those records can fall again,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports.
“With an impressive R147 200 prize purse adding extra incentive, we’re optimistic about seeing more South African 5km records rewritten in Durban. But it’s not only the elite race that will deliver fireworks. The Open Wave is packed with competitive runners chasing personal bests – and with prize money for the Top 3 men and women across every age group, there’s every reason to push hard.”
Meyer adds with a grin: “And of course, the Super Social Wave will once again bring the colour and energy that make this event so unique. Whether you’re running or walking, we want to see you dress up, embrace the vibe, and turn the Durban streets into a celebration of fun, fitness and flair.”
Title sponsor Boxer Superstoresshares the buzz, pointing to the iconic route that snakes from Snell Parade, cruises down Lagoon Drive, and finishes at Blue Lagoon Park.
“We’re looking forward to another action-packed day of racing,” says Lee-Ann Pillay, Head of Marketing at Boxer Superstores.
“It’s a fast, flat course with just one little climb to test the legs, but the real magic is in the scenery – runners as young as nine will fly past Durban’s landmarks with the ocean breeze at their side. Add in the activations, the music, and the vibe, and this becomes the most social 5km run in South Africa.”
With capacity already maxed out, the stage is set. From neon-clad walkers to record-chasing elites, Durban’s streets are about to echo with footfalls of the Boxer Super Run, a festival of speed, sweat, and celebration.
Johannesburg’s streets turned into a purple battleground on Saturday as South Africa’s finest lined up against East African pace at the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10K.
Elite start of the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10K Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
The second edition of the well-organised race started and finished at the historic Wanderers Club. The popular 10km and 5km sold-out event attracted a whopping 8000 participants, who enjoyed the warm, windless, conditions over a challenging hilly route through the streets of Illovo and Sandton.
Kenya’s Frida Ndinda claimed the women’s crown in 35:18. The 24-year-old Kenyan just managed to hold off off the fast finishing 35-year-old South African ultra-marathon queen,Gerda Steyn, who clocked 35:52 for second. Tuks youngster Karabo Mailula, 23, completed the podium in 36:12.
“The race went off so fast, I decided to hold back early,” she said.
“I worked my way through, got into second, and could see the leader, but ran out of road. I’m very happy with how strong I felt.”
The men’s race was a very different story. Thabang Mosiako, South Africa’s half-marathon champion, blasted from the gun and never looked back, storming to victory in 29:45.
National marathon champion Bennet Seloyi (30:00) was second, with the evergreen Stephen Mokoka (30:04) in third.
Thabang Mosiako Photo: Hollywood AC
“I told myself I’m going from the start,” Mosiako said.
“With guys like Stephen, you can’t wait … this madala doesn’t want to get old. Breaking 30 here was a surprise, but it shows my shape is coming back.”
For Steyn, it was a steady tune-up. For Mosiako, a statement of intent. And for Joburg, another reminder that the city’s streets remain a proving ground for champions.
Kamohelo Mofolo turned the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km into his personal victory lap, storming away from the pack like a runaway train on Saturday morning. The 19-year-old from Lesotho, already his nation’s 10km record-holder, lit up Kingsmead Cricket Stadium as he broke the tape in 27:58 leaving 12,000 competitors trailing in his slipstream.
With compatriot Tebello Ramakongoana absent, Mofolo carried the Mountain Kingdom’s flag high, ensuring the crown never left Lesotho’s grasp. Running in the colours of Durban’s Xcel Running Club, he made it back-to-back victories for his country, clocking the fastest stride of the day.
South Africa’s finest tried to reel him in, but Mofolo was simply out of reach. Kabelo “Mr Podium” Mulaudzi ( 28:01) chased hard, finishing just three seconds adrift, while Thabang Mosiako (28:03) sprinted home another two seconds later. Both men held on to his shadow but could never quite close the gap.
Mofolo’s race was bold from the gun. Just after 2km, he hit the accelerator, opening daylight between himself and the chasers. Even when stiff coastal winds blew across the route after 6km, slowing his record attempt, his lead never wavered.
“I realised the record was gone, but I focused on protecting my lead,” he said.
The teenager’s decision to skip the Absa Tshwane 10km the week before was a tactical masterstroke by saving his legs for Durban’s big stage. The gamble paid off handsomely, as he surged through the final kilometre in a blistering 2:40, sealing the title and the R35,700 prize.
“Yes, I said earlier this week that I wanted to win,” Mofolo smiled, breathless but triumphant.
“Everything went according to plan, and I am just so happy.”
For Mulaudzi, the runner-up spot was yet another podium finish in a career built on consistency.
“The race was tactical. I’m happy with my time, but today belonged to Kamohelo,” he admitted.
Mosiako, meanwhile, was elated with third.
“I was with Kabelo until halfway, but it got tough. To still finish top three in 28:03 makes me really happy,” he said.
On Durban’s flat, fast streets, Mofolo showed he is no longer just a promising prospect but a genuine force. At just 19, he has already proven he can set the pace and leave even the strongest rivals chasing shadows.
