Hollywood Athletics Club elite athlete, Neheng Khatala, credits years of hard work for finally dipping beneath the 32-minute mark over 10km. Thathe Msimango caught up with her.
On Sunday, 3 August, Khatala produced a scintillating 31:53 Personal Best time performance during the Totalsports Durban Women’s Race, improving her Lesotho National Record by eight seconds from the previous mark of 32:01. Khatala ended up finishing in fourth position in a race that Christine Njoki won with an impressive 30:14, a new African and South African All-comers Record.
Speaking after the race, Khatala expressed her delight with her performance competing in a quality race that East African runners dominated.
“I’m so happy to finally run sub-32 minutes after trying to do so for many years. I have been working hard. I’m a full-time student, so to balance studying and running is so hard,” said an elated Khatala, a student at the University of North West.
“Sometimes I train even at night if I’m coming off an afternoon class. Sometimes I cry overnight when things are not coming together. Remember there are assignments and workload from lecturers, but I try to continue to find the balance. To be able to run like this makes me happy.”
Besides Khatala running a career-best time, Hollywood Athletics Club athlete, Tayla Kavanagh, also had a good day at the office on Sunday. Kavanagh crossed the finish line in 31:53 to claim fifth position and became the fifth South African woman to dip under 32 minutes in history. Her time now ranks her as the fourth-best ever South African 10km athlete. Khatala was happy to see her teammate finding some form, especially after having had a difficult two years of injuries and personal battles.
“I always run with Tayla. The first time I met her was during the 2021 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Durban 10k, where she came first overall and I was second. Since then, we have been friends to each other,” explains Khatala, who is coached by Andrew Booysen.
“Even during the time she was struggling with the injuries, I kept motivating her, telling her that things will come together and she must stay positive. I encouraged her to have a positive mindset and continue to train hard. Plus, we also trained together in Pietermaritzburg while I was still residing there, and we were coached by Coach Andrew Booysen. I think the most important thing is not about me winning or coming first but women working together.”
Now the 33-year-old reigning Soweto Marathon Champion will turn her attention to the Totalsports races in Cape Town and Johannesburg before closing the month by running the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km which has attracted a 12 000-strong field on Saturday, 30 August.
“I’m going to race Totalsports Cape Town (9 August) and Johannesburg (17 August) because I promised and I have a good relationship with Michael Meyer (founder of Stillwater). I know it’s a bit of over racing, but I’m doing it for all the ladies out there. Afterwards, I’ll prepare to run our Hollywoodbets Durban 10km at month end,” she concluded.
