Busy weekend ahead for South African road runners

The action gets underway in Potchefstroom on Saturday, where athletes will compete in the Athletics South Africa (ASA) 10km Championships. Karabo Mailula will be among the runners targeting the women’s national title, while Bennet Seloyi will be looking to claim the men’s crown.

Attention will then shift to Durban on Sunday for the Boxer Super Run 5km, the country’s highest-paying premium 5km race.

Some of South Africa’s top athletes, including Elroy Gelant, Kabelo Mulaudzi, Glenrose Xaba and Karabo More, are expected to line up for the popular event.

Johannesburg will also host a major race on Sunday, with the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km moving to a new venue at Nasrec.

Thousands of runners are expected to take to the streets for one of the biggest events on the local road-running calendar.

The men’s race will feature some big names, including decorated South African long-distance runner Stephen Mokoka, defending champion Thabang Mosiako and ASA 4km cross-country champion Sibusiso Msibi.

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With R40 000 awaiting the winner, the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km is one of the most lucrative 10km races in the country, adding extra motivation for the athletes competing for top honours.

The women’s race promises to be just as competitive, with Lesotho’s national 10km record holder Neheng Khatala facing a strong field.

Four-time Soweto Marathon winner Irvette van Zyl, seven-time Two Oceans Marathon champion and five-time Comrades Marathon winner Gerda Steyn, Kenya’s Mbao Rachel Makura and Emma Pallant-Browne are also expected to be in action.

Van Zyl, who finished third in the Comrades Marathon in June during her second appearance at the ultra-marathon, says she still enjoys competing over the shorter 10km distance despite increasingly focusing on longer races.

The 39-year-old believes the younger generation is getting faster, but says experienced athletes can still give them a good challenge.

“I am not as young as I used to be, and my performance is not the same, but I still enjoy running in the 10km races. The youngsters are running faster, but we can still keep up,” Van Zyl told SABC Sport.

With national championship honours up for grabs in Potchefstroom, top athletes heading to Durban for the 5km showdown and a strong field gathering in Johannesburg, road-running fans can look forward to a busy weekend of action across the country.