Hollywood Athletics Club’s Purple Team turned its sold-out Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km into a showcase of organisational muscle and elite running firepower, with Neheng Khatala striking gold and three club athletes finishing in the men’s top seven at Nasrec on Sunday.
The third edition of the race attracted 12,000 participants across the 10km and 5km events, doubling last year’s turnout and turning the streets around the Johannesburg Expo Centre into a spectacular sea of purple.
For the Hollywoodbets Purple Team, the day was a powerful advertisement for its growing footprint in South African road running. Its elite stars delivered on the road while the organisers celebrated another milestone for an event that has rapidly become a major fixture on the racing calendar.
Nedbank Running Club’s Thabang Mosiako stopped the hosts from sweeping the men’s honours, defending his title in 30:43. Hollywood’s former Comrades Marathon champion Edward Mothibi, however, stole the spotlight with a superb second place in 30:51, matching third-placed Rebaone Obotseng’s time.
Thabang Mosiako successfully defended his title. Photo: Suppied
“I am really happy with my achievement today because it’s my second time running the Hollywoodbets Joburg. I think it was my third or fourth, but I have been maintaining a podium finish, so I can say I am very happy I managed to defend my title,” he said.
Mothibi’s performance was particularly impressive against a field packed with specialist 10km runners. The veteran showed that his endurance pedigree still carries plenty of firepower over shorter distances.
Hollywood’s Poloko Maphunye finished fourth in 30:54, while Stephen Mokoka, the experienced multiple South African record-holder, placed seventh in 31:29.
Edward Mothibi Photo: Supplied
Three Hollywood Athletics Club runners in the men’s top seven offered tangible evidence of the Purple Team’s depth, with Mothibi leading the charge and Maphunye and Mokoka reinforcing the club’s presence among the front-runners.
Khatala leads a purple podium charge
The women’s race provided an even bigger celebration for the hosts.
Lesotho’s 10km record-holder Neheng Khatala crossed the finish line in 33:40 to collect the R40,000 winner’s cheque and complete a memorable Durban-Joburg double after winning the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km in August.
The 2024 Olympian knew the hilly route would demand discipline and strength. Having won the Soweto Marathon two years ago, she recognised the challenge posed by the closing kilometres.
“I knew I did not have to go too fast; just manage my speed and balance the pace so I get to the finish because I did not want to be slaughtered at the end,” she said.
Emma Pallant-Brown, Neheng Khatala and Irvette van Zyl Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
UK-born Emma Pallant-Browne of Peak Running Club finished second in 35:04, followed by Hollywood teammate Irvette van Zyl in 35:17. South Africa’s golden girl of ultra-distance running, Gerda Steyn, completed a memorable club performance in fourth in 35:42.
Having three Hollywood athletes among the women’s leading four and five in the top 10 gave the Purple Team another reason to celebrate. Khatala’s victory, Van Zyl’s podium finish and Steyn’s fourth place underlined the strength of a line-up featuring talent across different racing distances.
The 2024 Olympian knew the hilly route would demand discipline and strength. Having won the Soweto Marathon two years ago, she recognised the challenge posed by the closing kilometres.
“I knew I did not have to go too fast; just manage my speed and balance the pace so I get to the finish because I did not want to be slaughtered at the end,” she said.
Khatala said winning in her club colours made the occasion particularly special, with the responsibility of representing her own team adding to the emotion.
Purple momentum heads to Mangaung
The club’s attention now shifts to the next challenge. Khatala, Van Zyl and Steyn are set to line up at the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY Mangaung 10km next Sunday, where Khatala hopes to attract strong support from fellow Basotho.
For Hollywood Athletics Club, Sunday’s success was about more than prize money and podium photographs. A sold-out mass-participation event, a formidable elite contingent and three male runners in the top seven provided a compelling demonstration of the Purple Team’s competitive reach.
Nasrec belonged to the purple wave. The challenge now is to keep it rolling.
Joshua Cheptegei’s appearance at the2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10Khas attracted what organisers believe is the strongest men’s field ever assembled for a 10km road race on African soil.
The Ugandan superstar, an Olympic champion, multiple world champion and world record holder over 5 000m and 10 000m, will line up in Durban on 12 July against a field packed with international winners, national record holders and emerging stars eager to test themselves against one of the sport’s modern greats.
Leading the list of challengers is Kenya’s Felix Masai, whose 27:24 personal best makes him one of the fastest men in the race. The Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon champion expects Cheptegei’s presence to elevate the standard of competition.
Felix Masai (Kenya) has a 10km PB of 27:24. PHOTO CREDIT: Action Photo
“He is one of the greatest distance runners of all time, and competing alongside him raises the level of the entire field,” said Masai.
“My race target is to give my best. I like competing in South Africa.”
Another athlete to watch is Kenyan Gilbert Kiprotich, who arrives in Durban with confidence after a strong performance at the Lisbon Half Marathon.
“I’m feeling well after the Lisbon Half Marathon. I took some time to recover before shifting my focus to preparing for racing in South Africa,” said Kiprotich.
“Looking back to the Half Marathon, where I recorded a 10km split of 27:01 and considering how the second half of the race unfolded, I believe I am capable of running comfortably under 27:00 in Durban.”
Kiprotich believes favourable conditions and strong pacing could produce something special.
Gilbert Kiprotich (Kenya) has a 10km PB of 27:43. PHOTO SUPPLIED
“We are hoping for favourable weather conditions and strong pacing on race day. I feel inspired by the opportunity to race against Joshua Cheptegei. He is a world-class athlete, and competing alongside him will provide valuable experience and contribute significantly to my development as a professional athlete.”
Lesotho national record holder Kamohelo Mofolo returns to the race where he set his country’s 10km mark in 2025 and believes the course remains one of the fastest on the continent.
“The Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K is a flat, fast course with few turns, and if the conditions are right it allows for very quick times,” said Mofolo.
“Every race here feels like it has the potential to be something special, and I’m honoured to be part of such an impressive lineup.”
Mofolo added that racing against athletes of Cheptegei’s calibre presents a valuable opportunity.
“Racing against athletes like Joshua Cheptegei is a great opportunity because he is an amazing runner, and I’m excited to learn from the best while sharing the start line with him.”
South African hopes will rest largely on Kabelo Mulaudzi, whose development has been closely linked to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series.
“I am grateful to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series because it created a platform for me to obtain an invitation to a big international race,” said Mulaudzi.
“I am extremely excited to be part of this event and it is always great to run in South Africa against the world’s best athletes.”
The South African believes competing alongside Cheptegei can bring out the best in the field.
“I have always enjoyed the challenge of racing against better athletes than myself and it is great to be lining up with Joshua. I hope that he will help bring out the best in me and all the other athletes competing in the race.”
Adding further depth is Cheptegei’s Ugandan training partner Emanuel Kibet, who boasts a personal best of 27:37 and is expected to play a significant role at the front of the race.
Stillwater Sports Managing Director and Series FounderMichael Meyer believes Cheptegei’s participation has transformed the event.
“Joshua Cheptegei’s participation has drawn a truly extraordinary depth of field to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K, bringing together world champions, record holders, and some of the fastest road runners on the planet,” Meyer said.
“This level of quality not only elevates the competitive standard of road running in South Africa, but firmly cements the 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K as the Greatest 10K on African Soil.”
Meyer added that the strength of the field could produce a historic result.
“In conditions like these, with such depth and intent at the front of the race, the possibility of a historic performance, even a breakthrough sub-27-minute 10km, becomes a real possibility.”
