Long distance runner Melikhaya Frans targets a fast time in the Joburg 10km race

The highly-anticipated 10km race is set to commence and conclude at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, commencing at 8 a.m. on Sunday.  

With over 10,000 eager runners expected to assemble along the streets of Joburg, Frans hailing from Gqeberha enters his second race in Joburg with unwavering determination.

His mission? To thwart the formidable Kabelo Mulaudzi, who is in relentless pursuit of his third consecutive victory in this prestigious series?

“Kabelo Mulaudzi, this young man, is becoming quite the formidable force. His insatiable appetite for winning in this series is becoming quite the challenge,” Frans remarked with a burst of laughter.

He went on to say during an interview with SABC Sport “Our strategy is to put a stop to his winning streak, and who knows, maybe I can secure a victory,” he added with a grin.

Under the guidance of the renowned athletics coach Michael Mbambani in the Friendly City, Frans has set his sights on breaking the sub-30 minutes barrier on Heritage Day.

His anticipation for race day is palpable, having diligently trained for the upcoming race 10km event.

At the age of 33, this seasoned athlete has proudly donned the South African colours in three consecutive world marathons. Most recently, he returned from the World Championships held in Budapest, Hungary, where he made the difficult decision to withdraw from the demanding 42km marathon after 30km.

“I’m feeling great physically now. I’m in excellent health and top-notch condition for the upcoming race. I’m eagerly anticipating the event in Joburg. Budapest’s scorching weather was quite challenging, making it tough for me to complete the race. Nevertheless, as a marathon runner, I firmly believe that we have more miles in our legs compared to our short-distance counterparts. Perhaps, there’s still some fuel left in my tank,” the humble runner remarked.