Tebello Ramakongoana wins SA’s richest 10km race to cap off a memorable year

Fresh off his seventh-place finish in the Olympic marathon in Paris with a time of 2:07:58, Ramakongoana clocked 28:07, just six seconds shy of the course record, to claim the R37,500 prize in South Africa’s richest 10km race. 

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He was closely followed by fellow Olympian Elroy Gelant, who finished in 28:08, while Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo took third with a time of 28:18. 

Defending champion Kabelo Mulaudzi finished fourth in 28:12, battling windy conditions alongside over 10,000 participants in the event’s fourth edition.

''I am very happy for this win. I came here to test my body after a tough competition in the Olympics. I came here to check if I am ready to compete again,'' said Ramakongoana.

Tebello Ramakongoana hailed 2024 as the best year of his career, highlighted by his historic seventh-place finish at the Olympic Games, which earned him widespread acclaim and celebration in his home country of Lesotho.

''2024 is a great year for me, because I have done well this year. I hope to keep the same performance even next year,'' added  Ramakongoana.

Lesotho showcased strong representation in the top ten, with Ramakongoana leading the charge, closely followed by Mofolo and Nkhasi. Ramakongoana attributed his victory to the advantages of training at high altitude, which he believes played a significant role in his performance.