Fresh off a personal best in Cape Town a week ago, Lesotho’s Namakoe Nkhasi showed the big names a clean pair of heels in the inaugural FNB Joburg 10km Citryrun.
The 23-year-old crossed the finish line at Mary Fitzgerald Square in 29:48 ahead of Kenya’s Edwin Koech. It was billed as the showdown between arch rivals Stephen Mokoka and Elroy Gelant with fellow Olympian, Sibusiso Nzima also in the mix, but it was Namakoe who had too much firepower on the day.
Second across the line was Koech at 30:07 with Nzima claiming the final spot on the podium.
“When we started to climb just before the 5km mark, I could see the guys were not strong enough to go with me so I pushed from there. Only Edwin was able to stay with me. I knew I was strong after my personal best last week, so when we turned up Rissik and Joubert streets, I surged again and Edwin was not able to go with me,” said Namakoe.
The ladies race, as expected, was between the twins Lebo and Lebogang Phalula and Zimbabwe’s Rutendo Nyahora. At the 7.5km mark the gap was substantial with Lebogang going through in 27:11 and made full use of the final 2km of downhill running to win in 35:33.
“When I saw Lebo and Rutendo driving hard in the beginning, I just sat,” said Lebogang. “When we started to climb before the 5km mark I saw that they were struggling. I then started to push.
“I’m really happy to win here today as both my sister and Rutendo beat me over 10km after they ran their marathon, so this was good.”
Photo: David Tarpey RUNNER: Lebogang Phalula leads the ladies.
The race kicked off at FNB Bank City Johannesburg and proceeded by iconic landmarks such as the Nelson Mandela Bridge, FNB Bank City, Constitution Hill, Mary Fitzgerald Square, Wits University, Neighbourgoods Market and Ellis Park Stadium to mention just a few.
Themba Mabizela, FNB provincial head for Gauteng South and Central, said it was exciting and overwhelming to see thousands of runners and sports enthusiasts gathered to participate in the inaugural race.
“Thank you to everyone who took time to explore and experience Jozi with us in a unique and extraordinary way,” said Mabizela.
