'Things are going well' - Mhlanga targets maiden sub 28 at Hollywoodbets Durban 10KM after Absa JOBURG 10K podium

Chris Mhlanga is on cloud nine this morning after a breakthrough performance at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K yesterday (24 September, 2024). The Boxer Athletic Club top runner took second place behind winner Gideon Kipngetich (28:51) to grab his first ever Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series podium finish. Despite a spirited chase over the last 3km, Mhlanga was unable to catch the Kenyan, but held on to second place to finish ahead of pre-race favourites Kabelo Mulaudzi (29:16) who took third place and Elroy Gelant (29:46) who secured fifth.

"Well done to him. He beat us," he told #TheTopRunner reflecting on the race. "We made the same mistake we made at the Absa TSHWANE 10K. We let him go thinking that we would catch up to him but it was too windy to chase him down. From about 8km, I was in disbelief when Elroy, Kabelo and others had been dropped. I couldn’t believe that it was me. I feel very excited about the run. I wasn’t expecting it," said the man who won the 2022 Thembisa Mile 10km race.

Mhlanga celebrates his first Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series podium finish. Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg.

But those close to the reigning University Sports South Africa 10 000m champion found yesterday’s showing easy to believe because the 23-year-old has enjoyed a productive 2024. Mhlanga who is coached by Hendrick Ramaala, started his season with a fifth place finish at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) 10km Road Running Championships in Johannesburg and then followed that up with a 3000m personal best of 8:03.17 when he took the runner-up spot behind Nadeel Wildschutt at the Cape Milers/Endurocad World Athletic Challenger meet in April.

His form in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has been even better. The University of Johannesburg student was eighth at the Absa GQEBERHA 10K, ninth in Cape Town, ninth again at the Absa DURBAN 10K where he delivered a lifetime best 28:24 after running with the led bunch until the 7km mark, fifth in Tshwane and second in Joburg. Mhlanga says his Zoo Lake teammates who include SA 10km record holder Precious Mashele, Olympian Desmond Mokgobu and sub 28 minute 10km man Maxime Chaumeton have helped him to grow.

Mhlanga on the podium alongside Kipngetich and Mulaudzi. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

"Things are going well. My training has been working well for me because my main focus since the beginning of the year was to get a podium finish at one of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series races. Now it’s happened," says the man who started to show promise while running for the Galloper Athletic Club in Ekurhuleni under the guidance of the likes of Mpho Mabuza who herself represented South Africa.

High on confidence Mhlanga feels his 10km PB is ready for revision. "I'm confident of running a new PB. Nomakanjani! The target there is go sub 28. I heard that the gents are going for the national record so if I can hang on and get my first sub 28, then I’ll be happy. All I have to do is believe in myself."