THE TOP RUNNER

A behind the scenes look at South African athletics

Search

'Its sad that athletics legends are mostly forgotten' - Morake steps in to help paralysed Rami Tsebe

Mosibodi Whitehead

Aug 12
2 min

'Its sad that athletics legends are mostly forgotten' - Morake steps in to help paralysed Rami Tsebe

In his seminal work on The Golden Age of South African distance running entitled Three men named Matthews, Richard Mayer expertly writes:...

245 views0 comments

'I'm surprised because I beat the younger guys' - 59-year-old Desmond Zibi still going strong

Mosibodi Whitehead

Mar 17
3 min

'I'm surprised because I beat the younger guys' - 59-year-old Desmond Zibi still going strong

While many may remember him for his exploits at the Two Oceans Marathon, Desmond Zibi is enjoying a second wind as an exceptional age...

345 views0 comments

'I couldn't believe it when I won it' - Willie Mtolo reflects on winning 1992 New York Marathon.

Mosibodi Whitehead

Nov 5, 2021
4 min

'I couldn't believe it when I won it' - Willie Mtolo reflects on winning 1992 New York Marathon.

It's been almost thirty years since William Bhekizizwe Mtolo became the first South African to win the New York Marathon. On November 1...

482 views0 comments

'Running is a good vehicle for Unity' - The Blanche Moila story

Mosibodi Whitehead

Oct 15, 2021
7 min

'Running is a good vehicle for Unity' - The Blanche Moila story

While most of the focus will be at the sharp end of the field, expect a roaring round of virtual applause when three icons of South...

391 views0 comments

The runner's runner - The Johnny Halberstadt story

Mosibodi Whitehead

Oct 8, 2021
7 min

The runner's runner - The Johnny Halberstadt story

To beat Johnny Halberstadt on the 18th of April 1981, you had to be willing to die trying. No one was, so no one did. Halberstadt stopped...

1,578 views0 comments

'Sometimes my father would train four times a day' - Zintle Mokoka as she remembers Bra Zet

Mosibodi Whitehead

Aug 20, 2021
2 min

'Sometimes my father would train four times a day' - Zintle Mokoka as she remembers Bra Zet

While athletics lovers will remember him for his Herculean feats on the road, those close to him continue to hold the late Zithulele...

455 views0 comments

Teachers play a big role in producing Olympians - Geraldine Pillay-Viret

Mosibodi Whitehead

Jul 9, 2021
4 min

Teachers play a big role in producing Olympians - Geraldine Pillay-Viret

With just 5 women making the final Olympic athletics team, the debate about the lack of top female performers has once again erupted in...

929 views0 comments

Manfred Seidler

Apr 30, 2021
5 min

LJ van Zyl – Master of the Hurdles

The first time I started to feel “old” was in December of 2002. I was in JBay on holiday when I heard a familiar voice shouting something...

404 views0 comments

Manfred Seidler

Apr 23, 2021
6 min

The Giant of the Ring

One Balmy Evening in Stellenbosch You know the opening sounds to “Thunder Struck” by ACDC? No, well here is a link to it. Have a listen....

286 views0 comments

Manfred Seidler

Apr 16, 2021
7 min

Bullet Mbuli

Bullet. Mbuli. Silver Bullet. Hard man. Fighter. “You won’t get passed him in the home straight if he is in front.” Those are the words...

490 views0 comments

Marius Corbett – upsetting the World Order

Manfred Seidler

Apr 9, 2021
5 min

Marius Corbett – upsetting the World Order

“I’m still my mother’s son." These were Marius Corbett's profound words when I interviewed him in early 1998 in response to my question:...

712 views0 comments

The World descends on Stellenbosch for the World Cross Country Champs

Manfred Seidler

Mar 26, 2021
7 min

The World descends on Stellenbosch for the World Cross Country Champs

23 March 1996 is a day forever etched in my mind. The world descended on Stellenbosch as the little Matie town played host to the 24th...

310 views0 comments

Manfred Seidler

Mar 19, 2021
5 min

Hero of the Hurdles

Llewellyn Herbert showed his true colours when an April fool’s joke ended in an SA Record. So fierce a competitor was the Bethal-born...

619 views0 comments

Rewriting the history books - The Elana Meyer story

Manfred Seidler

Mar 12, 2021
6 min

Rewriting the history books - The Elana Meyer story

1991 was a year of much excitement in South African sport, in particular in athletics. Firstly and very importantly, the Unity Talks...

5,458 views0 comments

Manfred Seidler

Mar 5, 2021
5 min

The Herculean efforts of Shadrack Hoff

To watch Shadrack Hoff running is to watch poetry in motion. He glides gracefully along while churning out kilometres at a blistering...

680 views0 comments

Forged at Zoo Lake - The Hendrick Ramaala story

Manfred Seidler

Feb 26, 2021
5 min

Forged at Zoo Lake - The Hendrick Ramaala story

Every morning, without fail you will see a group of runners circling Zoo Lake in Johannesburg. Lap after lap of the roughly 3km circuit,...

442 views0 comments

Manfred Seidler

Feb 19, 2021
6 min

Silver Bullet Sepeng

Hezekiel Zeekie Sepeng’s accolades are many; South Africa record holder in the 800m since 1999; first black athlete to win an Olympic...

373 views0 comments

Manfred Seidler

Feb 12, 2021
5 min

The Guns of Gatlin

Justin Gatlin, much maligned, vilified, hated and not popular in the least, until he came to South Africa in 2018. His welcome from fans...

44 views0 comments

Manfred Seidler

Feb 5, 2021
5 min

The day I met Michael Johnson

I have been immensely privileged to have met and interviewed some of the best athletes to have walked the planet. Athletes such as Jan...

113 views0 comments

CONTACT

Johannesburg, South Africa

admin@mwmedia.info

THE TOP RUNNER

Subscribe Form

CONTACT

Subscribe Form