'People had written me off' - Sosibo targets SPAR JOBURG podium after top run at HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN 10K

South African road running starlet Cacisile Sosibo is in confident mood after her impressive performance during the HOLLYWOOD DURBAN 10KM on Sunday (29 September). Sosibo clocked a season's best 32:48 to take second place as she finished 23 seconds behind the winner Neheng Khatala. It was the first time this year that the Boxer Athletic Club top runner managed to dip under 33 minutes for 10km, coming 21 seconds shy of her lifetime best of 32:27 set at the same race last year. 

But what makes Sosibo's efforts at the fourth edition of the Hollywood AC race even more impressive, is that it came at the end of a busy week that saw her run three races in just eight days. On Saturday 21 September, she participated in the Gqeberha leg of the SPAR GRAND PRIX 10km women's race where she was seventh in 33:34, then followed that up with fourth position (34:34) at the absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on National Heritage Day (24 September), before heading to Durban for the HOLLYWOODBETS 10KM event. The 27-year-old Boxer Athletics Club top runner says many people had written her off. 

Sosibo has been one of the most consistent athletes in this year’s SPAR Grand Prix 10km series. Here she is pictured at Tshwane race in August where finished third. Sosibo finds herself in second place (SA athletes) on the Grand Prix leader board behind front runner Glenrose Xaba (Boxer). Photo Credit: Reg Caldecott.

"It feels good to run like this and I'm very happy with the time I posted. The race was wonderful from the start and everything went according to plan. I know many people were saying that I'm no longer performing as well as I did last year, so it feels good," said an elated Sosibo.

Sosibo enjoyed an incredible 2023 in which she managed to dip under 70 minutes twice over the half marathon distance. First she clocked 1:09:46 to take seventh position at the Nelson Mandela Half Marathon in June which incorporated the Athletics South Africa Half Marathon Championships and then she improved her time by 15 seconds when she claimed a celebrated 10th position in the 21km race at the World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia. 

"I think people must realise that the standard of running in the country has also improved. More runners are running fast and hungry to do well. The competition has been tough which is good for athletes to grow. In races where international runners are present, we see faster times being run. Even in this race (HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN 10KM) the standard was high and we did well. Although my target as was to better my personal best, it didn't happen because of the wind. In the end, I'm happy to finish second."

Sosibo surges ahead of Lesotho's Blandina Makatisi to finish in second place at the HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN 10KM. Photo Credit: SMacPix.

Sosibo's next assignment is to secure a podium finish at the Johannesburg leg of the SAPR GRAND PRIX on Sunday 6 October. The athlete who hails from the town of Bulwer in KwaZulu-Natal has accumulated 72 points in the overall Grand Prix leaderboard standings which means that she must beat Lebo Phalula and Karabo Mailula both on 53 points, in order to finish as the second South African behind Glenrose Xaba, an accolade which comes with a R50 000 cheque.

"There were lot of changes after Gqeberha race. But my aim is to finish inside the top three. By that time, I will be fully recovered from the fatigue of all these races. Racing in Johannesburg is always challenging because of the hills, but I'm optimistic that I will do well."