Mhlanga produced a powerful sprint finish to cross the line in 29:00, edging out Athletics Gauteng North newcomer Musawenkosi Mnisi, who clocked the same time in his debut senior race.

Onalenna Khonkhobe, representing Central North West, claimed the bronze medal in 29:07, while defending champion Bennet Seloyi of CGA settled for fourth in 29:36 after struggling in the wet and icy conditions.

The Transport and logistics Management student at the University of Johannesburg admitted he could hardly believe he had managed to withstand Mnisi’s late charge. He kept glancing over his shoulder as they approached the finish, only relaxing once he secured the biggest victory of his career.

“It was a tough race,” Mhlanga told SABC Sport. “The sharp turns and mud made it difficult because the road was wet. I’m just happy I managed to cross the finish line first — that’s all that matters to me.”

Mhlanga added that he expected the race to unfold differently.

“I thought there would be a big gap off the hills and that someone would pull ahead early. I didn’t expect it to be this tight,” he explained.

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A regular competitor in the Absa Run Your City Series, Mhlanga said the challenging weather made his performance even more satisfying.

“It’s actually a good time compared to the Absa Joburg and Tshwane races, where you run sub-30s. Under these conditions, I was expecting something like this,” he said.

Saturday’s race was officially Mhlanga’s last of the season. He now turns his attention to preparing for the World Cross Country Championships in the United States in January 2026. Before then, he is looking forward to a short break, time to reflect, and the opportunity to be with his family after a demanding and emotionally taxing year.

Finished Sri Lanka in Pakistan ODI Series