Namakoe Nkhasi upsets Kabelo Mulaudzi to win the Joburg 10km race

The thrilling race unfolded at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown on a memorable Sunday, where more than 10,000 runners took to the streets of Joburg.

Nkhasi displayed remarkable speed, completing the course in just 28 minutes and seven seconds, thereby ending Mulaudzi’s previous dominance in the series.

For his achievement, Nkhasi not only claimed victory but also pocketed the coveted R30,000 prize money, reserved for the first athlete to cross the finish line.

Mulaudzi, who had been vying for his third consecutive series win and fifth 10km race victory in three months, seemed poised for success until the final 1km stretch, where he was overtaken.

Eventually, he had to settle for a respectable second, finishing in 29 minutes and 26 seconds. This earned him a R20 000 prize.

Mulaudzi had thought victory was within his grasp, but in the end, his strength waned, allowing the determined athlete from the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho to seize the glory.

Nkhasi, who utilized this race as part of his preparation for an upcoming marathon later this year, expressed his emotions, stating, “I’m at a loss for words, It has been a challenging year for me, having grappled with a groin injury for an entire year. The journey back to peak performance was easy; It was filled with numerous obstacles. However, I maintained my patience throughout, diligently working to regain my fitness level. This victory fills me with immense pride and a deep of accomplishment. I want to thank my coach, Michael Seme, and my mentor and training partner, Stephen Mokoka, for their unwavering support. Mokoka played a pivotal role in helping me reach the level I find myself at today,” Nkhasi shared during an interview with SABC Sport.

“On Saturday, I completed a half-marathon, and then on Heritage Day, I found myself with some free time and decided to go for another run. Feeling a bit bored, I took a chance, and it was my training partner, Collen Mulaudzi, who convinced me to participate in this race. Honestly, my initial intention was just to have some fun, but surprisingly, I ended up clinching the victory. In the last 3km, Kabelo and I pushed ourselves, clocking an impressive eight minutes and surpassing Kabelo. My body was undoubtedly feeling the strain, but I decided to take a gamble in the final 1km after staying in the midst of the pack for most of the race,” shared Nkhasi.