'I wanted to have three wins this year' - Neheng Khatala targets victory at Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km

Hollywood Athletics Club top runner Neheng Khatala is just one race away from realising the dream that she dreamt at the beginning of 2024. At the start of the year, Khatala set herself the goal of winning at least three races in the calendar. Having managed to claim victory at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km race in late September in of 32:25, just a shade outside her lifetime best of 32:01, Khatala then won the africanbank Soweto Marathon on 3 November in a time of 2 hours 43 minutes. Now she has set her sights on winning the inaugural Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km which takes place at the James & Ethel Gray Park in Melrose tomorrow (16 November).

Khatala on top of the podium at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km. She is aiming to be there again on Saturday 16 November, when she races the very first edition of Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km. Photo Credit: Hollywood AC.

For company, Khatala will have the likes of Cacisile Sosibo, fellow Mosotho Blandina Makitisi who Lesotho's 21km national record holder, as well as rising 10km star Karabo Mailula. Despite mentioning during today's (15 September) pre-race press conference that she hasn't fully recovered from the exertions of a notoriously demanding marathon, Khatala who trains under watchful eye of Andrew Booyens says she will give it her all in the race tomorrow. 

"Although I haven't fully recovered yet, I'm excited to be part of the race tomorrow. I always give my best every time I run. Hopefully tomorrow I'll make it to the top three. Winning the race for my club would mean a lot to me. I wanted to have at least three wins this year. I got two already which is Hollywood and Soweto Marathon," she told members of the media who had gathered at the Sky Hotel in Sandton.

Sosibp, Makatisi, Mailula and Khatala at the pre-race press conference. Photo Credit: Hollywood AC.

The top runner from Lesotho has been a notable competitor on the South African road running scene for a few seasons now. She says racing against some world class East Africans in races such as the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K has made her stronger. "Looking at the past few years, I have been running in strong field of ladies from Ethiopia and Kenya. It's very hard to compete with Kenyans and Ethiopians especially in those races like Absa. Even though sometimes we run fast times but in terms of positioning we are always behind, so I have learnt to work hard. I have been working very hard."

The 30-year-old who is the Mountain Kingdom's 10km national record holder is delivering these performances despite juggling education with running. Studying towards a Sports Science qualification at the North West University, Khatala says former SA 5 000m record holder and Olympian Elroy Gelant, who is a lecturer in the same school inspires her that there is nothing impossible in life.

Magwai, Gelant, Wiersma, Mosiako and Mokoka are all excited to take part in the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km. Photo Credit: Hollywood AC.

"I think Education is important because there is life after sport. I also think Elroy is always inspiring me because he is a lecturer and pursuing studies again and running. Looking at him doing well being a lecturer, student and athlete at the same time inspires me to have a bigger picture in life."

In the men's race Elroy Gelant will look to upgrade the runner-up position he obtained in Durban to first. He will have stiff competition from Thabang Mosiako, Stepehen Mokoka and Rehgen Magwai, while 2024 Comrades Marathon champion Piet Wiersma has also been included in the elite men's field as he looks to improve as a 10km athlete.