'I'm ready to challenge' - Mdletshe eyes City2City top five after breakthrough Comrades performance

Rising South African ultramarathon star Njabulo Mdletshe believes he has what it takes to challenge for a top-three finish at the City2City 50km race. Mdletshe is among a handful of long-distance specialists vying for top honours at the race that runs between Gauteng's major cities, Johannesburg and Pretoria, scheduled for September 28. The men's race features big-name competitors including reigning africanbank Soweto Marathon Champion Onalenna Khonkhobe, Two Oceans third-place finisher Lucky Mohale, and Comrades Marathon gold medalist Givemore Mudzingayama.

The 32-year-old Mdletshe surprised the road running community with a remarkable performance during the Comrades Marathon, finishing in 16th place overall with a time of 5:43:43 to earn a Wally Hayward medal. With over three months to prepare, he believes he has fully recovered from the 89.98km race and is ready to tackle another ultra-distance event. 

Mdletshe running alongside two-time Comrades gold medalist Alex Milne during the 2025 edition of The Ultimate Human Race. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"After the Comrades, I made sure to rest adequately before returning to training. My preparations for the City2City race are on track. On Sunday (September 14), I completed my long run, and my body responded well," explained Mdletshe, who competes for the Black Diamond Athletics Club.

"I think it's essential for athletes not to rush back into competition. Prioritizing recovery helps avoid injuries that could jeopardize your career. I've only participated in one 10km race since the Comrades to test my recovery process. Given the training I've done, I believe I'm ready to challenge my competitors on race day. However, you can never be 100% sure, as many factors can affect your performance on race day."

With a top 20 finish in the Comrades and a 34:09 clocking at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on 13 July, a fully recovered Mdletshe admits that he does feels a newfound pressure to perform well in upcoming races. He welcomes this pressure saying it will help him elevate his performance level.

Mdletshe celebrates a maiden Wally Hayward medal after a top 20 finish at the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon. Photo Credit: Black Diamond AC.

"In life, everyone seeks growth. To reach the next level, you have to make sacrifices and be willing to work hard. Following my Comrades performance, people will expect me to succeed in races, which adds pressure but also motivates me to train harder. I need that drive to be among the best ultra-runners in the country. To be the best, you must perform well when racing against top athletes. This is the beginning of my adaptation to that expectation," said the man who hails from Mtubatuba in the north of KwaZulu-Natal

Employed as a general worker at a hardware store before his Comrades 2025 performance earned him a first full pro-contract with Black Diamond AC, Mdletshe now has the backing needed to compete against the finest ultra marathon athletes in the land. Now Mdletshe, who is the holder of a 2:30:13 standard marathon best run at last year’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, aims for a top-three finish at City-to-City.

"My goal is to secure a top-three podium spot. If I can run in 2 hours and 55 minutes, I believe it’s possible. I expect the race to be fast, as Onalenna tends to take the lead early on. I’m prepared to keep him in my sight, as losing him could mean the end of my race. I’ll stick with the leading group of athletes, just like I did in the Comrades."