"I trusted myself" - Pheko celebrates maiden Absa RYC podium finish

When Zenzile Pheko clocked 13:52 at altitude to win the men's 5km at the Zet Sinqe Series Run 2 in Vosloorus on August 1, he boldly declared that he could challenge for a podium finish at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K. That belief was strengthened by the 21-year-old Boxer Athletics Club runner's blistering 11:21 victory in the senior men's 4km at the CGA cross-country championships on August 15.

"I gained confidence after running 13:52 at altitude. I knew a podium was a possibility in Tshwane. I then ran 11:21 at the CGA champs to save some strength for the Tshwane 10k. That's why I felt confident I will make the top three," he told #TheTopRunner.

Pheko on the the podium alongside Kibet and Mhlanga. Photo Credit: Stillwater Sports.

The Boxer Athletic Club top runner, who opened his Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series campaign with a personal best 28:44 for fifth place at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K in March, was unfazed by the strong Kenyan contingent led by eventual winner Salem Kibet.

"I trained hard for the race. I trusted myself and knew I would place. I ran the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K uncomfortably due to a sore back. That's why I pushed for a podium in this race," he explained, alluding to his 28:49 21st place finish in Durban on 12 July.

A challenging hill threatened to derail his race after the 6km mark, but the Munsieville resident stayed with a strong chasing pack hot on the heels of early pace-setter Neil van der Merwe. After the group dropped Van der Merwe in the closing stages, Pheko, Kibet and his Boxer teammate Chris Mhlanga broke away from the chasing field. Kibet, however, proved the strongest of the trio, producing a devastating finishing kick to clinch the victory in 28:45.

Pheko held on for second in 28:55, leading the South African contingent, while Mhlanga completed the podium in 28:56.

The tall figure of Pheko running in the bunch of leading men at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K on 23 August. Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg.

"My plan was to finish the race because anything can happen. There was a hill after 6km that took a lot out of us. I managed to conquer it and then told myself to stay inside the bunch so that we could pass the 8km mark as a group. I didn't want to pressurise myself because I already knew I trained and prepared well for the race. I'm happy with how I performed because I came second,"said Pheko who is coached by Tsepho Khoza.

With his best Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series performance now behind him, Pheko will challenge for a podium and help CGA retain its senior men's 10km team gold at the ASA cross-country championships at Curro Hazeldean in Tshwane on September 5.