South Africa has strong short-distance and ultramarathon runners


For a country that takes pride in being an expert in ultramarathon running, South Africa does produce some exceptional short-distance road runners.

This is shown by the fact that Gerda Steyn, who holds the Comrades Marathon up-run record, not only runs the fastest marathon in South Africa but also performs well at 10-kilometer distances.

The Run Your City Joburg 10k race on Saturday will demonstrate the huge competence in the men’s category.

Despite the challenging path, the popular series’ conclusion, which will air on Heritage Day, is predicted to be explosive. How else can a race with well-known athletes like Melikhaya Frans, Elroy Gelant, Precious Mashele, Andries Sesedi, Mbuleli Mathanga, Collen Mulaudzi, Thabang Mosiako, and Kabelo Melamu fail to captivate the audience?

The intelligent runner will be familiar with all of those names and be aware that the M1 and M2 motorways in Johannesburg’s will be tested on Saturday.

After won the same race in the SA Cross Country Championships last weekend, Mathanga, the defending SA 10km Cross Country champion, believes he has an advantage over his rivals. The quickest guy in the field is Mathanga, who finished the Run Your City Durban 10k in July with a pace of 28:03.

“I am hopeful for race day,” Mathanga added.

I injured my ankle approximately 7 kilometres into the Run Your City Durban 10k race in Durban, just missing breaching the 28-minute threshold. I thus anticipate finishing the event on Saturday.

The Olympian Mashele, who completed the Gun Run 10km in 28:35, would not, however, allow him to have his way.

“I want success. In 2022, I dealt with a few illnesses, but I’m back now,” said Mashele.

The two are well aware that rivals like Gelant, who holds the national record for the 5-kilometer race, and Frans, who is hardly a weakling, will be there and asking questions.

Sesedi, a 21-year-old newcomer who won his first race in the SA 10km in August and is now the champion, will experience the same thing. Seoposengwe will also seek to demonstrate that his second-place finish at the SA 10km championships was merited.

Mogwai is displaying that he is learning a great lot from the legendary Stephen Mokoka via a number of excellent races, the most recent of which was a third-place performance at the Gun Run.

He’ll be driven to do well on Saturday as well. Mulaudzi, a different pupil of Michael “Sponge” Seme, will also be there.

In terms of 10km races, this one is certain to be thrilling.

In order to prepare for the New York Marathon in November, Steyn will want to maintain increasing her speed in the women’s race. She ran the half-marathon well in the Gun Run, finishing in 74 minutes.

It is expected that the race would be thrilling since six of the competing ladies have run faster than 33 minutes. The fastest time came from Neheng Thala of Lesotho, who finished the Run Your City Cape Town 10K in 32:06.

In addition to the strong Lebo Phalula, Kesa Molotsane, and the rising Cacisile Sosibo, it should be challenging to overcome Glenrose Xaba, the national 10 km champion.


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