Kenyans triumph at Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km as Mosiako and Khatala claim runner-up spots

Fridah Ndinda showcased her strength when she delivered a top performance to outclass a quality field on the way to winning the inaugural Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km race on Saturday 16 November. Ndinda clocked 33:57 on a tough and hilly course with newly crowned africanbank Soweto Marathon champion Neheng Khatala coming home in second position in 34:29. Reigning Boxer Super Run Durban 5k champion and rising star Karabo More took the last podium position in 34:33. Thanking her creator for the victory, the Kenyan revealed that the triumph came as little surprise to her because she has worked hard to improve on hilly courses. 

"The race was good, I just thank God for the energy and the organizers of the Hollywood 10k for the nice event and for inviting me this year. I hope I'll be here next year too," she told #TheTopRunner. "What makes me strong on the hills is the workouts I have been doing back home. I do a lot of hills because you can't find a course which is flat."

Kipkorir held on for victory despite a spirited chase from Mosiako and Mhlanga to win by just one second. Photo Credit: SMacPix.

The 23-year-old Ndinda is no stranger to the South African road running circuit having made her 10km debut with an impressive 32:28 personal best clocking during the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K. This year, she ran two Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series races. In April, she obtained seventh position at the Absa rUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K in. season's best 33:18, and then in August she finished fifth at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K in 33:46. Today's 10km race through Johannesburg's leafy northern suburbs starting outside the Wanderers Cricket Stadium and finishing at the James & Ethel Grey Park in Melrose, is Ndinda's first victory on South African soil.

"South Africa has been nice to me because my first race, I started here in South Africa back in 2022 during Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series and I was position three. I enjoy this country and I hope organisers will of the Hollywoodbets 10k will invite me again," she said.

More than two years after making her South African debut, Ndinda won he first race on SA soil. Photo Credit: SMacPix.

With the season over and an eye on qualifying for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, Ndinda says she will now plan her 2025 season with an emphasis on getting faster. " I'm going to sit down with my coach and plan for the new season on what we are going to do, what are we going change and where to  improve. Then work on the speed. It was tough for me to qualify for the Olympics this year because of the injury but come 2028, I'll work on it."

In men's race, Vincent Kipkorir made a Kenyan sweep of victory at the Purple race when he crossed the finish line in 29:51. Despite a spirited chase from Thabang Mosiako (29:52) and Chris Mhlanga (29:52), Kipkorrir managed to just hold on to his early lead to win his first race on South African soil.