'It's unbelievable' - Bennett Seloyi reflects on breakthrough 2024 season and targets more success in 2025
Asked about the highlight of his season, Bennett Matlakala Seloyi did not hesitate for a moment. "World Cross!" The Waterfall Athletic Club top runner represented South Africa for the first time when he was selected as one of the senior men to run at the World Cross Country Championships in Serbia. Picked alongside the likes of fellow Central Gauteng Athletics athletes such as Kabelo Mulaudzi and Chris Mhlanga, Seloyi was not expected to outshine his more decorated teammates. But he did, claiming 21st place in the men's 10km to finish as the first South African in a race won by Ugandan world record holder Jacob Kiplimo.
"I ran a very good personal best. It's unbelievable," he told #TheTopRunner reflecting on his 29:20 finish which was less than 90 seconds behind Kiplimo's winning time. "I was so scared when I lined up for that race because it was my first time going up against top runners like Kiplimo. So it was a valuable experience because it showed me where I am relative to those global stars. My aim is to qualify and run again in 2026."
Returning from those championships at the end of March, the man who is coached by Best Ngwenya at the Kempton Park-based United Training Club continued with his good form. In September he clocked a lifetime best 2:17:11 to take 16th position at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and then took fifth position in a top class race at the Thembisa Mile 10km in 30:34 a week later, followed by victory in the 10km race at the African Bank Soweto Marathon a week after that in 30:21 and then wins at RAC's Tough One 32km on 24 November, the 10km event at the Mandela Remembrance Walk & Run on 8 December and an impressive 1:05:58 to take line honours at the Lesedi Athletic Club Annual Reconciliation Day Half Marathon.
Six races in seven weeks including a marathon is surely too much though? The 24-year-old from Thembisa says he is a strength runner who benefits from high mileage. "It's easy for me. After racing a long distance like a marathon, I find it easy to run the shorter distances like 10km and 21km. My advantage is that I have a decent start, I can finish and I can take the pain. That's what makes it easy for me because I run each race according to a specific target and not based on what others are doing. That approach prevents injury."
And after a breakthrough season which also saw him win the national 10km title in early March after Mathews Leeto was disqualified, the CGA top runner says his goal is to become a more regular top ten and top five finisher in some of the country's major races like the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series and the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km.
"For next season I want to improve my PB's and finish in the top ten in every single race in which I take part. What excites me is running with the top runners. It inspires me a lot. I really enjoy it. I want to be with the likes of Precious Mashele. I've only started to experience that now and I want more of it next year. I want to be at their level. I even want a top five in Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series. I haven't achieved it yet, but I want it!"
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