Champions Ryan Mphahlele and Prudence Sekgodio will return to defend their titles at the SPAR Thembisa Mile on October 30.
ALSO READ: Register online for the SPAR Thembisa mile and 10km race
Those who have entered to compete in this year’s race in Thembisa will be led by the champions in a competitive field of middle distance runners.
Locals are encouraged to sign up for the big marathon that will take place on Sunday.
The yearly competition, which comprises a street mile (1.609 km) and a 10km race, will start and conclude at the Moses Molelekwa Arts Center, which is close to Makhulong Stadium.
Both professional and novice runners and walkers will participate in the race.
Residents can register online if they want to participate in the local marathon. Register online for the race at www.thembisamile.co.za.
The registration period ends on October 23 or when all available spots have been filled.
People are encouraged to participate in Thembisa Mile because it is one of the most thrilling events on the calendar.
ALSO READ: Thembisa hosts top runners for Thembisa Mile
With one of the defending champions, Sekgodio, gracing the strong field and some great times from the elite runners along with plenty of fun for all other participants and spectators expected, this is a race not to miss.
Prudence Sekgodio, the current South African 800m and 1 500m champion, is going for an unprecedented fourth victory after winning in 2018, 2019 and 2022.
She is aiming for the women’s course record of 4:44, which was set by Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli in 2014.
Sekgodio, who represented South Africa with a bronze medal at the African Athletics Championships in Mauritius, created history when she won the 800m in a world record time of 1:58.41 at the KipKeino Classic in Kenya.
She later placed second in her Diamond League debut in Morocco.
The renowned road race has drawn some of the top athletes in the country once more, including Thembisa-based Mphahlele, a runner for the University of Johannesburg who plans to break the coveted four-minute barrier in Thembisa.
ALSO READ: Thembisans gear up for the return of the Mile
Mphahlele earned a silver medal earlier this year in the African Athletics Championships held in Mauritius in June.
Later, he competed for South Africa in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the World Athletics Championships in the United States, where he ran the 1 500m in 3:34.66, a personal best.
According to Donald Mathipa, the event’s founder and organiser, a total prize purse of R75 000 will be the prize money.
“Each of the men’s and women’s winners of the 10km race, which was postponed in 2020 and 2021 owing to Covid, will get R5 000, while the champions of the invitational mile competitions will receive R3 000.
“In addition, SPAR vouchers will be given to the top three boys and girls in the U10, U13 and U15 age groups in the mile.
“All finishers will receive a medal and a SPAR goodie bag.”
Event organisers are also aiming to raise R30 000 for Thembisa Athletics Club development programmes.
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