Johan Cronje excited to run on home roads in Mangaung

The World Athletics Championships 1500m bronze medallist is delighted that the Free State will soon take centre stage as thousands of runners prepare to descend on the City of Roses for the much-anticipated event.

With just two weeks to go before the race, Cronje is looking forward to being part of a historic occasion that is expected to attract more than 10 000 runners from across the country and beyond.

For the former track star, however, the event is about much more than competing against some of the best road runners in South Africa and on the continent. It is also an opportunity to put Mangaung on the running map and inspire the next generation of athletes.

Cronje, who now works as a financial official at a corporate company, will temporarily trade his office wear for running gear as he joins thousands of participants on race day.

Although he has retired from competitive middle-distance running, his passion for the sport remains strong.

He is particularly excited about sharing the road with some of the country's leading 10km specialists while challenging himself to run a personal best.

Cronje believes the arrival of the popular road-running series in Mangaung is an important step towards growing the sport in the Free State and giving local runners an opportunity to experience a major event on their doorstep.

“We have been waiting for the day to arrive when we can say that we have a big race in Mangaung. I am just looking forward to sharing the road with the talented 10km runners in the country and on the continent,” Cronje told SABC Sport.

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The multiple South African track and field champion says lining up alongside some of the country's top performers could also motivate him to push beyond his limits.

While he is eager to test himself over the 10km distance, Cronje insists that the bigger picture is what matters most. He wants to see the event bring people together, encourage more young people to take up running and create greater interest in athletics across the province.

For Cronje, who made his name competing on the international track, one of his biggest wishes is to see South Africa produce more talented middle-distance runners who can compete against the world's best.

He believes that exposing youngsters to major races and giving them opportunities to run alongside established athletes can help spark that ambition.

“I believe that I can challenge myself and break my PB. But the most important thing in this race is that Mangaung will be on the map and all the runners will be coming to the Free State. For me, that is what is important,” he said.

The inaugural Mangaung race will bring the Absa Run Your City series to the Free State for the first time, adding another major event to the province's sporting calendar.

With the streets of Mangaung set to welcome thousands of runners, Cronje is hoping the occasion will leave a lasting legacy beyond race day and help inspire a new generation to embrace the sport.