The Benoni Northerns Athletic Club’s Bright Mikolongwe said he will focus his training on running on the grass and track to strengthen his muscles and build-up speed to maintain his form.
Mikolongwe won the Qhubeka Athletic Club’s Human Rights Day 10km race on his first attempt. It was held at the School of Achievement in Germiston on March 21.
This was his third podium finish following a bronze medal at the Johnson Crane Marathon in January and another bronze at the Edenvale Marathon last month.
“I need to keep training hard o keep winning like I did today. I will keep taking part in the parkrun every Saturday because it helps a lot so that I can keep making all the Benoni Northerners and all Benonians proud,” he said.
The Malawian blitzed to the finish line in 32:59 to claim the gold medal, 29 seconds faster than home favourite Ziyavuya Mwahla from Qhubeka.
Ntakuseni Mudau from Standard Bank took third place, clocking 34:42.
On a route with minor challenges but flat enough to produce a fast race, Mikolongwe’s analysis and gamble in the first few kilometers paid off.
“I don’t know the route so I took it easy in the first 2km. After that, I felt I can do it and I decided to increase my pace, overtaking runners one by one until I caught the leading man.”
The half-marathoner caught the leader on the 7km mark and they ran side by side for the next two 2km until he gambled with a sprint, leaving his challenger in his tracks.
Despite being fazed by the presence of familiar names such as Mudau and Boksburg Athletic Club’s Paul Kasu, Mikolongwe was excited to win.
He said the occasion was made extra special because it was held on Human Rights Day and was happy to be in the presence of people from all races united by their love for running.
“The Qhubeka AC Race was so good and had many challenges. We competed with top runners who are specialists in the 10km.
“It was my first time running here and the first event for Qhubeka AC since it was formed.”
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