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.
