"The talent is still there" - Ngwenya continues 2026 comeback with victory at CURRO ASICS Street Mile

On a day when 16-year-old Tiisetso Malungane once again grabbed headlines for clocking an eye-watering 4:03.85 to win the boys U17 race at the CURRO ASICS Street Mile, it was Mahlatsi Ngwenya’s victory in the senior women’s mile that got the pundits talking about the return to form of a once-promising junior athlete. Although slower than the 4:53.30 Leandri Pretorius ran to win the Girls U16 mile, the 800m specialist produced an encouraging 5:05.78 to dispatch a quality field of athletes including the likes of Naledi Makgatha and Wiepke Schoeman.

"It wasn't such a tough course," she told #TheTopRunner moments after winning her race on Youth Day. "I planned to start with the bunch and then see if I would still have energy at the end which is where I would execute a fast finish."

Ngwenya on top of the podium alongside ASA Acting President John Mathane after winning the CURRO ASICS Street Mile in 5:05.78. Jolene Richards of RUN ZONE AC took second (5:11.90) took second, while Wiepke Schoeman claimed third in 5:15.72. Photo Credit: MWMedia.

Finishing on top of the podium at the event which took place at The Blyde on the eastern fringe of the city of Tshwane, is simply the latest iteration in a string of Ngwenya’s excellent 2026 results. The 22-year-old who hails from the township of Thokoza in Ekurhuleni clocked personal bests over both the 800m (2:09.68) and the 1500m (4:31.48) in April. She says her decision to stop training alone in favour of joining Caster and Violet Semenya’s training group is paying dividends.

“I think I made the best decision by joining Caster Semenya’s training group last September which meant that I had a proper base and buildup for this season. So when the season started I was well prepared. So it was just a matter of competing and proving to myself that the talent is still there,” explains the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) dentistry student who has been living in Pretoria since matriculating from Höerskool Marais Viljoen after spending four years at the Tuks Sport High School. 

Ngwenya poses with her coach Violet Semenya who has helped her to rediscover her love for run. Photo Credit: MWMedia.

"I was afraid to join a training group because I had a bad experience in the past. But going this group made the difference. Training with elite women like Glenrose Xaba, Karabo Mailula and Karabo More pushes you because you see that your standard is amateur and they are up there. So you have to put in the effort to be able to match their standard."

As they did in reviving the fortunes of Karabo More who went from almost quitting the sport to becoming an African 1500m champion, Violet and Caster made the former high school champion feel at home and in so doing reignited her love for running. Having rediscovered her confidence, Ngwenya is now aiming to claim a podium finish at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Cross Country Championships in September.

"I haven’t run cross country for two years. So I’m planning to run cross country this year and medal in the senior women’s 2km race."