RACE REPORT: Mhlanga and Xaba dominate weekend racing as Kavanagh continues her comeback

Chris Mhlanga shone brightest on a busy weekend of racing that saw many of the country’s top runners taking part in more than one race. The Boxer Athletic Club athlete began his weekend on Saturday where he won the men’s 10km race at the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Cross Country Championships ahead of Bennet Seloyi and Kabelo Melamu. Less than 24 hours later, Mlhanga who is coached by Hendrick Ramaala at Zoo Lake, line up at the Waterfall Athletic Club Half Marathon where he won the 10km in 30:23, Seloyi took second in 30:42, while Olympic Marathoner Desmond Mokgobu was third in 31:38.

Mhlanga defeated training partner Desmond Mokgobu and the home club's Bennet Seloyi to win the men's 10km at the sold out Waterfall AC Half Marathon. Photo Credit: SMacPix.

Nicholas Seoposengwe was also in action on both Saturday (17 August, 2024) and Sunday (18 August, 2024). The 2023 SA 5km champion finished as the runner-up (12:51) to Kabelo Mulaudzi (12:34) in the men’s 4km race at the CGA Cross Country Championships in Kagiso on Saturday and then won the Waterfall AC Half Marathon in 1:06:09 on Sunday. Sibusiso Nzima who represented South Africa at the 2016 Olympics in Rio was second in 1:06:36 as Ian Nathan claimed third position (1:07:20).

Like Mhlanga, the most dominant road runner of the last 8 weeks, Glenrose Xaba also enjoyed a weekend on top of multiple podiums. On Saturday Xaba destroyed her opposition to win the Johannesburg leg of the Totalsports Women’s Race at Marks Park in Emmerentia in 32:26. Second placed Diniya Abaraya of the Nedbank Running Club in Ethiopia finished over a minute behind her in 34:24, while Cacisile Sosibo showed strength to claw here way back from fifth at halfway to take the final podium position in 34:59.

Xaba dominated the Johannesburg leg of the Totalsports Women's Race. Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg.

“I am excited to win the Totalsports Women’s Race again in Joburg! I love this course—it just proves that when it comes to hills, I destroy them,” said Xaba with a laugh. “I took the lead from the start and hoped the other girls would help me,

but unfortunately, they stayed behind me. I just told myself that I needed to control the race until the finish. Considering the high altitude and tough course, I’m really happy with my time. It’s a good feeling to win.”

The 29-year-old who is coached by Caster and Violet Semenya demonstrated why she is considered to be at the peak of her powers this year when she delivered another dominant performance on Sunday. The newly minted SA 10km record holder (31:12) lined up at the Waterfall AC Half Marathon on Sunday and went on to win by (1:17:37) by over five minutes from Kenya’s Faith Kiptoo (1:23:18), as veteran Lebo Phalula took third (1:25:05) on the hilly route run in Midrand, north of Johannesburg.

Kavanagh led from gun to tape. Photo Credit: SPAR KZN Women's 10km and 5km Challenge.

Elsewhere, 2021 SA 10km champion Tayla Kavanagh continued her return to full fitness after struggling with injury. The Hollywood Athletics Club athlete won the Pietermaritzburg leg of the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge in Pietermaritzburg in 34:12 ahead of Comrades Marathon gold medalist Jenet Mbhele (34:58) and Likeleli Majara of Sibanya Stillwater (35:16).

In the Vaal, Lesotho's 10km record holder Namakoe Nkhasi prevailed over Maxed Elite marathoner Simon Sibeko to win the Tebogo Masehla Legacy Race 10km in 30:35 to Sibeko's 30:45. Phantane AC's Leslie Mokoena was the third athlete home at the Isak Steyl Stadium at the Vaal University of Technology in 31:22.