Long distance runner Makwande Mngcwengi will make another attempt at this weekend’s Ultra Trail Cape Town. An ultra marathon specialist who claimed an impressive 5:53:12 finish at the 2023 Comrades Marathon, Mncwengi is one of a growing number of long distance road runners who have begun making the transition to trail running. The KZN-based runner made his UTCT debut in 2022, covering the 100km distance in 13 hours 03 minutes 59 seconds to take 11th place overall and finish a

Reflecting on another successful season during which he broke Gert Thys' 26-year-old SA Marathon record, Elroy Gelant attributes the mercurial highs he experienced over the last two years to his excellent support structure whose cornerstone is his wife Tamzin Thomas. After popping the question to his SA & African Champion 100m and 200m sprinter finance last November, the fastest couple in South Africa were married at a private ceremony in Stellenbosch this past weekend. The

Of all the athletes you could have picked to finish on the podium at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) 10km Championships in Bloemfontein on Saturday 15 November, you would have been hard pressed to select Onalenna Khonkhobe as one of your medal favourites. Yet that’s exactly what the reigning Prince Mangosuthu 52km and 2024 Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon champion did. Running in the colours of Athletics Central North West (ACNW) against a host of 10km specialists, Kh

Tete Morena Dijana, a celebrated three-time Comrades Marathon Champion, will be counted among the top contenders at the Diamond and Dorings Kimberley Big Hole Marathon, taking place on November 22nd in the Northern Cape. This inaugural event features a substantial prize of R200 000 for the winner and has drawn prominent athletes, including Namibian marathon and half marathon record holder Daniel Paulus, 2025 Totalsports Two Oceans podium finisher Lucky Mohale, and Lesotho's N

South Africa's road running superstar, Glenrose Xaba is ending her year on a high after pocketing over half a million Rand at the season-ending SPAR Grand Prix Awards yesterday (11 November). Xaba, not only became the first South African to win all five legs of the Spar Women's Challenge, she is the first black South African woman to win three Grand Prix times. Glenrose Xaba was crowned the 2025 SPAR Grand Prix champion at SPAR Grand Prix Awards held in Midrand, Johannesburg

Following an excellent season which saw him grab the silver medal in the senior men’s 10km race at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Cross Country Championships in September, Zenzile Pheko has signed for one of South Africa's top professional clubs. The 20-year-old from Munsiville in Krugersdorp has been released by his development club Kopano AC to join the Boxer Athletic Club. "It feels good," he told #TheTopRunner. "It has been my dream for a long time to see myself on top

Fresh off their golden performances at the Boxer Super Run Durban in October, Ryan Mphahlele and Glenrose Xaba brought their winning form to Jozi - claiming the crowns as King and Queen of the 5km at the inaugural Boxer Super Run Joburg, held at Marks Park Sports Club yesterday (Sunday, 9 November 2025). Mphahlele crossed the finish line first in the ELITE MEN'S WAVE in an impressive time of 14:20 seconds on a tough course. Finishing strongly Bennett Seloyi made up three pos

After winning the Boxer Super Durban 5km on debut, all eyes will be on Ryan Mphahlele when he races the first edition of the Boxer Super Run Joburg 5km on Sunday 9 November. After a disappointing World Championships campaign in Tokyo in September, the #Paris2024 has revived his season with a few encouraging performances, which included a season's best 3:58.50 victory at the Parys Crater Street Mile on 25 October.  Mphahlele and Elroy Gelant in action during the Boxer Super Ru

Under Adam Lipschitz's leadership, the Social Runners Club launched an endeavor in 2023 to develop a unique road running event in the Durban suburb of Umhlanga. The decision proved astute, as most races were generally concentrated in the Durban CBD. As a result the Umhlanga Rocks Half Marathon has since flourished, exhibiting significant growth as they hosted just under 2000 participants across 21km, 10km and 5km in 2024.  As the race prepares to enter its third year on Novem

Rising middle-distance star Boipelo Maroga is chasing history. The promising Nedbank Running Club junior has set her sights on breaking the magical two-minute barrier in the 800m, a feat achieved by only six South African women – Caster Semenya, Prudence Sekgodiso, Charne Swart, Zelda Pretorius, Ilse Wicksell and Eranne van Zyl. Maroga who is pictured here at the Alexandra leg of the Zet Sinqe Series specializes in the 800m and 1500m. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita. Driven by a

After selling out in less than a day, runners are calling on the Comrades Marathon Association to make more entries available for the 2026 Comrades Marathon. Following a week reserved for Green Number holders to enter the race last week, general entries opened yesterday and sold out in less than twelve hours. The entry cap of 22 000 for the Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg was reached within a day, making it the fastest Comrades entry sellout in history. But those who w

Having declared her intentions to race her first Abbott World Marathon Major race in 2026, Glenrose Xaba underlined her credentials by delivering a podium finish at the Lisbon Half Marathon on Sunday. Xaba clocked an impressive 1:08:37 which was the second fastest 21km of her career as she came within just 18 seconds of her lifetime best to grab third position behind Kenya’s Cynthia Chpekwony (1:07:20) and Ethiopia’s Chaltu Dida Diriba (1:08:12). Reflecting on a season that h

James Moloi has until the end of the month to give Athletics South Africa reasons why he should not be suspended as President after parliament's Portfolio Committee for Sport revealed that he used the federation’s credit card to buy alcohol at taverns. ASA released a statement yesterday which detailed the process by which the decision to provisionally suspend Moloi was taken by the ASA Board at a marathon 10-hour board meeting, which took place at the OR Tambo Garden Court in

After a disappointing showing at the World Championships and the cancelation of last week’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Elroy Gelant returned to winning ways with a confidence-boosting performance at the Thembisa Mile 10km yesterday (Sunday 26 October). The 3-time Olympian and SA Marathon record holder survived a stiff challenge laid down by Kenya’s Erick Ngeno in the first half to defend his title in a lightening quick 29:13. "I have to thank Donald Mathipa and his organising

South African long distance sensation Adriaan Wildschutt showcased his talent with a remarkable 59:13 21km debut at the Valencia Half-Marathon in Valencia, Spain today (Sunday, 26 October). Apart from producing a world class clocking at the first time of asking, what made Wildschutt's accomplishment even more outstanding, was that he established a new South African Half-Marathon record, surpassing the previous national record of 59:36 held by Stephen Mokoka by 23 seconds.  "I

The Gems Spirit of Comrades Awards ceremony was held on Friday, 24 October, at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban, celebrating stories of triumph over adversity that align with the spirit of endurance and resilience of the Comrades Marathon. Siphamandla Maduna, was recognized for his remarkable display of perseverance and determination as one of three recipients of The Spirit of Comrades Award.  Maduna running the Durban International Marathon where he ran a personal best 3:49 ahea

Vosloorus middle-distance sensation Karabo Ntholeng is fired up to make his mark when he lines up at the Central Gauteng Athletics 10km championships, which have been incorporated into the Tembisa Mile, on Sunday 26 October . Fresh from a commanding win at the Tommy Malone Memorial race on October 19 at the Boksburg City Stadium – where he blazed through the men's 15km in in 48:14 – the Maxed Elite athlete is riding a wave of confidence. With his eyes firmly set on another st

Organizers of the inaugural Siyathuthuka Development 10km race, held on Sunday, 19 October at the Prince Mangosuthu Stadium in Ulundi are upbeat about the success of the event which was organised to recognise and reward promising junior athletes. The event was dominated by junior athletes. Photo Credit: Supplied. Ayanda Thabede emerged victorious in the men's junior 10km category, earning a handsome prize purse of R4,000, while Amahle Ngema and Tebogo Molefe secured R2,000 an

Following a difficult injury-riddled three years, during which she struggled to recreate the mercurial form that saw her win the national 10km title in lightening quick 32:10 in October 2021, Tayla Kavanagh is finally making good on her considerable promise. The Hollywood Athletics Club top runner clocked a lifetime best 31:41 to win the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 10km Peace Run on Saturday 18 October by over a minute from Carina Viljoen (33:05) and Irvette Van Zyl (33:32). Ka

After infrastructure damaged by strong overnight winds forced the cancellation of the 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, the race's title sponsor has moved quickly to quell the growing calls of disappointment from the 24 000 runners that were left stranded by offering every 2025 marathon entrant a sponsored entry for either May 2026 or 2027. This offer will be extended to all 2025 marathon entrants, regardless of whether the race succeeds in its bid to become Africa's first Abbo