Mokoka confident ahead of world champs, despite juggling races

He will line up with a weight of expectation on his shoulders, and one eye on another race back home next month, but Stephen Mokoka is confident he will be able to deliver another solid performance at the World Road Running Championships in Latvia on Sunday.

While South Africa has earned seven medals at the biennial spectacle, the national squad has not stepped on the podium since 1999.

Mokoka, however, has finished in the top 10 on four occasions, and the national half-marathon record holder’s experience and consistency will be key this weekend.

He will line up alongside Elroy Gelant, Precious Mashele and SA champion Thabang Mosiako in the 21.1km race — a quality quartet that should be able to challenge for the podium in the team competition.

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But Mokoka also has his sights set on his title defence at the Cape Town Marathon next month, and he admitted this week it had been a challenge to prepare for both races simultaneously.

“I’m just hoping to have a good day and a good race,” Mokoka said before leaving for the showpiece.

“Preparing for a marathon and a half-marathon together, over the same period, is not ideal. But we felt I should go try again at the world half this year.

“So I’m going over there to give it my best shot and see how it unfolds.”

Other races

In the women’s half-marathon, South Africa will be represented by Glenrose Xaba, Cacisile Sosibo, Cian Oldknow and Kesa Molotsane.

“My target is to run well and set a personal best, and maybe with the team we can achieve more, maybe top five in the team prize,” said Xaba, the national champion.

With the World Road Running Championships also hosting shorter distance races for the first time, Nicholas Seoposengwe and Maxime Chaumeton will compete in the men’s 5km race, while Tayla Kavanagh and Kyla Jacobs will turn out in the women’s 5km contest.

Ryan Mphahlele and Carina Viljoen will line up in the men’s and women’s mile (1.6km) races.