Just days before the Comrades Marathon, Nobuhle Tshuma found herself stuck in a Kenyan airport, facing uncertainty as authorities barred her from departing the country amid allegations by doping officials that she needed testing. After months of preparation in the country famous for its long-distance runners, Tshuma risked missing the race on Sunday, 14 June. Thankfully, she was cleared and allowed to compete in her second Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, after arrivin

With just a few days to go before the 99th edition of the Comrades Marathon on Sunday 14 June, one of the athletes expected to deliver a strong performance is Sibusiso Kubheka. Although he’ll be making his best at the Ultimate Human Race, his status as being the first man on earth to run under 6 hours for 100km means that his decision to run his first Comrades has been met with some interest. Guided by Xolani Mabhida who coached the legendary Bong’musa Mthembu to two of his

It came as no surprise when junior high jumper Kenneth Phooko soared to the U18 boys' title in a lifetime best and schools record 2.20m at the South African Schools Track and Field Championships at the Pilditch Athletics Stadium on May 1. The remarkable clearance crowned a breakthrough season for the 16-year-old and secured his place among South Africa's brightest young athletics prospects ahead of the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in August. "Breaking

Since its inception, Maxed Elite, the oldest commercial running club that is still operational in South Africa, has been a dominant force on the track, cross country and roads. But it is the Mr Price backed club’s unparalleled Comrades Marathon success that has set it apart. The Durban-based club has won at least one gold medal at every single Comrades since Shaun Meiklejohn won the 1995 edition of The Ultimate Human Race in it’s signature red vest. 2012 Comrades champion Lu

As if to underline the 10km dominance he enjoys in Limpopo, Alex Aphane won the 2026 Kasi 10km race on Saturday, 6 June at the Seshego Stadium, Polokwane to go with the more than 30 career titles he has already won. Zebediela-born Aphane clocked 31:15 to secure a narrow two second victory over Layvern Abrahams, as Nobert Svubure took third in 32:01. According to Aphane, who runs in the colours of Nedbank Running Club, the Kasi 10km formed part of his preparation for next mont

Leading athletics commentator and announcer Thabo Molete could barely contain his admiration as he inspected the Champions League Cross Country medals and winners' trophy before they were presented at the relay stage finale at Curro Serengeti in Kempton Park on May 31. Molete has become the latest high-profile figure to throw his support behind the innovative franchise-based competition, which got underway with a time-trial stage earlier in May. A passionate advocate for the

Many will find it difficult to believe that Johannes Kekana only decided to compete in the 2013 Comrades Marathon just a few months before securing a memorable fifth place finish on debut. Reminiscing about his remarkable 2013 performance where he achieved a time of 5:46:27 on the Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, the renowned South African long distance runner revealed to #TheTopRunner that he only decided to participate in the event just 10 weeks before race day. "I s

Celebrated as a success, the inaugural Phantane Durban Street Mile brought together some of South Africa's most prominent middle distance stars, and it was Johannes Morepe who came out on top. The 21-year-old got the best of a quality field including reigning SA 5000m champion Jerry Matsau. The 1500m specialist clocked 4:06 to edge out Abraham Kubjane in a close finish where both men were credited with the same finishing time. Matsau was the third man to cross the finish line

Since the likes of World Championships bronze medalist Johan Cronje and Olympic finalist Juan van Deventer achieved 1500m success on the world stage, South Africa has struggled to produce male middle distance stars who can compete at the highest level. Although there was some progress when 1500m specialists Ryan Mphahlele and Tshepo Tshite closed the gap and represented SA at the Paris Olympics, experts agree that the nation’s global achievements do not match it’s endless sup

Prudence Sekgodiso reckons she’s on her way back to her prime fitness and is eyeing another global medal at the Commonwealth Games. Sekgodiso pulled out a good performance at the inaugural SuperSport Simbine Classic on 28 April where she won a competitive women’s 1500m race. She crossed the finish line ahead of African champion, Karabo More (4:11.90) who had beaten her at the ASA Senior Track & Field Championships a week earlier and Carina Viljoen (4:17.02) who finished third

Competing in his first 10km race in SA since becoming the first South African to produce a sub 28 minute clocking on home soil in 2022, Maxime Chaumeton delivered on his top billing status when he set a new course record to win the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 10km Peace Run in The Mother City yesterday morning (23 May). Eyeing the fastest time of 27:53 run by multiple SA record holder Adriaan Wildschutt on the same route two years ago, Chaumeton crossed the finish line in 27:42

Despite a challenging start to continental competition, South African middle distance star Karabo More is thrilled that she was able to come out tops at the CAA African Athletics Senior Championships held in Accra, Ghana between 12 to 17 May. Running in the pouring rain, More powered through the finish line in 4:15.40 to secure a tight victory over Kenya's Vivian Chebet Kiprotich who clocked 4:15.50, while Souad EL Haddad of Morocco came in third in 4:16.00. More's gold meda

Renowned road runner Stephen Mokoka is delighted to have two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge as a participant at this year's Sanlam Cape Town Marathon set for Sunday 24 May. The former World Record holder touched down in The Mother City yesterday (Tuesday 19 May) for what will be his 42,2km race on the African continent. It also marks the start of Eliud's Running World tour, which will see the Kenyan run seven marathons across all the continents over the next two years.

Two course records were delivered during the second edition of the annual Rocky Nice & Easy Half Marathon on Saturday, 16 May at the Polokwane Rugby Fields. Polokwane Athletic Club's Ananias Masila won the men’s race in a personal best time of 1:09:25 to eclipse the 1:13:49 Jeffery Morukhu last. Year, while Nyandono Manenzhe clocked 1:33:19 to take more than seven minutes off the women's course record. Speaking to #TheTopRunner after the race, Masila who hails from Ga-Mamabol

With less than a month to go until the 99th running of the Comrades Marathon, Likeledi Majara is looking to make history by becoming the first woman from Lesotho to win a gold medal at The Ultimate Human Race. “It would be historic,” she admits. “It would be truly special.” Although representing the Mountain Kingdom, the Nedbank Running Club Athletics Free State top runner enjoys a diverse heritage spanning the alpine borders between Lesotho and South Africa. Majara who resid

Olympian René Kalmer has thrown her weight behind the Champions League Cross Country series, praising its fresh, team-based concept after the opening time-trial stage at Pinnacle College Rynfield in Benoni on Sunday May 10. Kalmer believes the innovative event has the potential to reshape perceptions of cross country running in South Africa. "I think it's an awesome event and it's going to grow into something really big. It's so well organised, so hats off to the organisers f

After emerging victorious in the 2023 Durban International Marathon with a time of 02:30:31, Annie Bothma took a break from competitive running due to health concerns which included undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Nevertheless, Bothma remained resolute in her determination to make a comeback. On Sunday, 3 May, she announced her return with a personal best 2:27:45, when she finished as the runner-up at the Durban International Marathon, which incorporated the Athletics South

When Kayla La Grange won her first senior national title at the ASA senior track and field in Stellenbosch, she announced herself as a sprinter ready for the global stage. La Grange stormed to the women’s 200m crown at Coetzenberg Stadium, clocking 23.37 seconds - her second-fastest time ever - to hold off defending champion Rumè Burger and claim her first senior gold medal. Overcome with emotion, she broke down in tears as she crossed the finish line, the release marking the

Remaketse Lekaka made history by becoming the first runner to win the inaugural Polokwane City Ultra-Marathon (50km) on Saturday, 2 May in Polokwane. Running in the colours of the Mokopane-based Folang Mokerong Athletic Club, the 27-year-old bossed the streets of the Limpopo capital to win the men’s race in a time of 2:54:50. Thulane Manana was the runner-up in a time of 2:59:02 while Musawenkosi Nene completed the podium in 3:01:38. Lekaka says his victory was informed by hi

He may have left it late, but Leendert Koekemoer delivered when it mattered most, booking his place at the World Athletics Junior Championships in emphatic style. The University of Johannesburg athlete dipped under 45 seconds in the 400m for the first time in his career, clocking a blistering 44.94 at the inaugural SuperSport Simbine Classic World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting at the Pilditch Stadium yesterday (April 28). Running in the pre-programme, the 18-year