Xaba eyes sub 32 while Khatala turns focus to Absa RYC after dominating USSA Track & Field Champs

After dominating the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Track and Field Championships last week, Neheng Khatala turns her attention to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series this week. The University of the North West athlete took home three gold medals at the championships which took place in Bloemfontein from the 4th to the 6th of May after winning the 5000m, 10 000m and half marathon.

The holder of no less than four Lesotho national records was particularly dominant over 25 laps of the track where she won by over two minutes and secured qualification for the World Student Games taking place in China in July. Her winning time of 34:49.18 an indicator of what can be expected when she takes on tougher opponents in a fast Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K on Sunday.

Neheng Khatala is aiming to produce another 32 minute clocking at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K. Photo Credit: Action Photo.

After taking fifth place at the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 2 April in 32:45, Khatala says she wants to run faster on a course where she set her personal best and national record of 32:06 last year. "I’m feeling good. We have a good plan. We have been doing volume training and I think we will be ready. My plan is to run faster than I did last time. I wanna see myself under 32:45."

The Hollywood Athletics Club top runner will be up against a strong field of local and international talent. Glenrose Xaba will be looking to go beyond the 32 minute mark for the first time in her career after setting a new lifetime best in The Friendly City. The Boxer Athletic Club athlete will spearhead the South African charge against the East Africans led by rising Ugandan star Prisca Chesang and the in-form Veronica Loleo of Kenya.

Xaba on the way to setting a new 10km PB at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K at the beginning of April. Photo Credit: Action Photo.

Xaba says she's ready for a good performance. "I'm hoping that on race day I'll perform better than I did in Gqeberha because I was a bit tired there after racing the 10 000m at the ASA Track and Field Championships a few days earlier. In preparation for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K you saw me running the Cape Milers event where I obtained a personal best in the 3000m (9:07.63) and a season's best in the 5000m (15:29.72). So it shows that I'm moving in the right direction. I'm looking forward to improving on my PB," she said.