Lesotho runner Neheng Khatala targets Absa Run Your City Cape Town 10km

After a strong performance at the Hamburg Marathon last month, where she recorded her second fastest marathon time of 2 hours, 28 minutes, and 37 seconds, Khatala is now preparing to compete in the 10km race.

In Hamburg, she crossed the Finish Line in tenth place just 31 seconds outside her personal best. 

A prize of R30 000 awaits the first athletes to finish the popular 10km race. Khatala, who is based at the University of Potchefstroom in the North West Province, achieved her personal best of 32 minutes and 06 seconds at last year’s Cape Town leg of the Run Your City series, finishing third.

This time, she’s aiming for the top spot against contenders such as Glenrose Xaba, Blandina Matakisi, and others.

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Khatala said: “I struggled in the second half of the marathon because of the numerous hills. Now that I have fully recovered, I will see how my body feels during the Cape Town race. While my performance will depend on how my body holds up, I am aiming for the top spot on the podium this year, hoping to improve on last year’s third-place finish. I have been jogging and have a few sessions with the physio, just doing the usual, nothing much,”

Khatala, set to represent the Mountain Kingdom at the Olympic Games in Paris in July/August, is tipped as the top contender for the upcoming race.

She faces stiff competition from Diana Chepkorir of Kenya, the winner of the Absa Run Your City event in Gqeberha with a time of 31:15 in April.

Chepkorir, 22, clinched her victory in the Eastern Cape Province in Khatala’s absence, setting the stage for a captivating showdown between the two this weekend.