'Things have come together' - Khatala sets sights on World Championships after setting new 10km national record at TWR Durban

A week after finishing second (1:13:28) behind Glenrose Xaba at the hot and hilly Foskor F21 Half Marathon, Neheng Khatala rewrote the history books by becoming the first Mosotho woman to break the 32 minute barrier. Running in the Totalsports Women’s Race Durban, the Hollywood Athletics Club top runner clocked 31:53 for fourth place to set a new national 10km record for Lesotho by eclipsing her previous mark of 32:01. 

"I'm very excited," she said moments after crossing the finish line outside the Suncoast Casino. "You've seen me running for so many years and you know I've been trying to run sub 32. Trying for so many years. Today things have come together." 

Khatala in action during the 2025 Totalsports Women's Race in Druban where she set a new 10km national record for Lesotho - pending ratification. Photo Credit: Cuan Walker.

What makes the achievement even more special for the 33-year-old North West University Student is just how long's taken to finally run a 31-minute 10km. Khatala has run inside 32:10 thrice over the last three years, which includes last year's 32:01 as well as last month's 32:07 recorded at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K where she took eighth position in a fast race featuring a number of talented East Africans. Khatala says the challenges of balancing a busy student calendar with training and competition almost got the best of her, but she persevered. 

"I'm a very hardworking person. I also make sure I work hard. I’m a full time student, running and studying is so hard for me. Sometimes where my classes are late, I have to run at night. Sometimes I cry overnight when things can’t come together and I have assignments and lectures and I have to run at the same time," said the reigning Africanbank Soweto Marathon champion.

Khatala completes the TWR Durban alongside Hollywood AC teammate Tayla Kavanagh who also ran a personal best. Photo Credit: Anthony Grote.

Most impressive though is how the athlete coached by Andrew Booyens has been able to perform well over a range of distances from 5000m on the track where she won (16:41.51) the University Sports South Africa (USSA) title in May, to 10km, the marathon and ultra marathons such as the Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon where she claimed third place back in April. Also Lesotho’s fastest 42km runner of all time (2:28:06), the 2021 Olympic marathoner says her next objective is to perform well at World Championships where she will race the marathon.

"Coach and I work together. He trusts me so much. It's always about trying to find a balance between during endurance and speed. We structure every training block so that if I run shorter distances or longer distances I don’t lose too much. You may think I’m not winning races, but my goal is longevity. I don't want to kill myself. I want to have a long career and when the time is right I’ll definitely win."