Milton Kekana joins Xcel Running Club

In preparation for the 2023 season, Xcel Running Club has bolstered their squad by signing Milton Kekana. Kekana will fill the gap left by the loss of valuable athletes such as Pakiso Mthembu, Ndumiso Sokhela who joined the Maxed Elite Running Club last month. Speaking to #TheTopRunner, Kekana expressed his excitement over grabbing the professional contract of his running career. The 27-year-old who had been running in the colours of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Athletics club, has committed himself to a one year relationship with Xcel.

Kekana returns to a heroes welcome at the OR Tambo International Airport after winning the 2019 World University Games 10 000m title in Italy. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"I'm happy to finally be able to get a first contract in my running career. It's a good start. This contract shall be a great foundation for more good things to come. Plus this shall push me to continue to work harder and start to look at my career with the different eye. It wasn't a tough decision for me to commit to Xcel because they have great ambitions and we had a good understanding of each other when we negotiated. I can't wait to start running in their colours," explains Kekana who is a former 10 000m World University Games Champion. The man who trains under the watchful eye of World 50k record holder Stephen Mokoka says his aim this year is to clock personal bests in the distances he specialise in. "My goal is to better my personal best in all the distances I'm competing in. It is possible as I'm putting in the hard work in training in order to deliver on race day," said the man, who earned the bronze medal at the 2022 SA Track & Field Championship over 10 000m distance and is the holder of a 28:42.99 lifetime best over 25 laps of the track.

Sbusiso Cele (left) and Mandla Mngomezulu (right) founded the Xcel Running Club in April 2020. Originally Durban-based, the club's elite section has now grown to include a Gauteng branch that has signed Pretoria-based Milton Kekana. Xcel Running Club.

"I have notified Xcel management that I'm targeting the Absa RUN YOUR CITY series this season. I want to run those 10k races at the coast in Gqeberha, Cape Town and Durban so I can edge closer to clock best times. Remember, my best time over 10km (29:38) came in Durban last year, S=so anything is possible if I put my mind into it," he said. Kekana will run his first race in his new red and navy blue Xcel Running Club colours when competing in the Athletics Gauteng North ( AGN) half marathon championships on the 19th of February.