This Saturday sees the first edition of the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km which kicks off outside Wanderers and finishing at the iconic James and Ethel Grey Park. A star-studded elite men’s field has assembled with over 5000 runners who will tackle a tough course at altitude. Cuan Walker previews.
Whilst Hollywood Athletics Club will have some of their elites in the form of Stephen Mokoka, Collen Mulaudzi, Nkosikhona Mhlakwana, Reghen Magwai and Sikhumbuzo Seme in action, the Purple Stars will face a tough challenge up front from the who’s who of distance running.
Hollywood Athletics Club Elite Team Manager Manfred Seidler is thrilled with the field that has assembled. “We are very proud and excited to be hosting the first edition of the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km and the fact that in our very first race we have a field of over 6 000 runners which includes a very strong elite field speaks volumes about the interest in the race, in the club and in what our sponsor Hollywoodbets has been able to achieve.”
It's right about time, this time around we are at @HWAthleticsClub @Hollywoodbets SA Joburg 10km.
— Nkosikhona Mhlakwana (@N_Mhlakwana) November 15, 2024
Feeling 😄 👌 @PUMASouthAfrica @32Gi @Edemedpha @PrimeHPI @EADP_KZN Shamim Khan Physiotherapist @MylesClouston Sipho Thabethe Craig George @Prodi_Khumalo
📸 @runwithcuan pic.twitter.com/XDLz54DXkN
In form Elroy Gelant from the Boxer Athletics Club is coming off a stellar 2024 season which saw the 38-year-old finish 11th at the Paris Olympic Games Marathon and came close to the SA 10km record with his 27:47 in Durban in July. Most recently Gelant finished second at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km on windswept day in a quick 28:07.
19-year-old Kamohelo Mofolo from Maxed Elite Lesotho is a youngster coming into his own in 2024 with victory at the Absa Tshwane RYC 10km and a podium finish at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km in September.
Boxer’s Chris Mhlanga will be hard to beat on home-ground territory. Throw in the likes of Mokoka, the former SA record holder over 10km and in form Mhlakwana who is fresh off his 28:58 10km personal best from the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km, and Saturday’s event promises to be a race to remember.
Another sub-28 min 10km performer will be Nedbank Running Club’s Thabang Mosiako. The 29-year-old athlete who is now based back in Klerksdorp after returning to his former coach Pio Mpolokeng boasts a 27:45 10km personal best and an equally impressive 59:52 half marathon best which saw him finish sixth at the World Half Marathon Championships.
2024 Comrades Marathon champion Piet Wiersma joins his teammate in the search of a fast time. Whilst it may be a big step down in distance for the Dutchman, he uses the event as prep for the Seville Marathon in just over three weeks.
Our @Nedbank_RC green dream team athletes Piet Wiersma and Thabang Mosiako are ready for the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km tomorrow 💚 #MoreThanAClub @bavariaSA @BiogenSA @futurelifeza @Nike @ThirstiW pic.twitter.com/H2GQGweHiI
— Nedbank Running Club (@Nedbank_RC) November 15, 2024
A dark horse who could spring a big surprise is Potch Track Club’s Luan Munnik. A 1500m specialist, Munnik is in superb form, fresh off a 4:03 Thembisa Mile victory the day after setting a personal best 10km of 29:32. Last week Munnik won the Boxer 5km in Tshwane in a quick 13:50, indicating that he can go under 29 minutes over 10km.
“With athletes like Stephen, Thabang, Kamohelo and Elroy just to name a few, we have a very competitive field in the Men’s race and I think it is going to be a fantastic contest up front which you won’t want to miss out,” said Seidler.
