"This is the race that opened doors for me" - Mhlanga celebrates second 10km triumph as Mphahlele wins record 4th Thembisa Mile title
Chris Mhlanga's decision to skip the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K in favour racing the Thembisa Mile, paid dividends when he won the sold out event on Sunday 25 October. Mhlanga clocked 29:40 to edge out Kenya’s Peter Langat Cheptot (29:42) and his Boxer Athletic Club Modupe Tladi (29:53) for his second victory at the popular 10km race, following his breakthrough win in 2022.
“I’m so happy to win this race for the second time because this was the race that opened doors for me in the running game. It was the first place where I beat some really big names,” he said reflecting on that win four years ago where he defeated SA Marathon Record holder and three-time Olympian Elroy Gelant. “I hope I get the opportunity to come back next year to defend my title,” said Mhlanga who earned R10 000 for his efforts.
Mhlanga was one of 4500 athletes who contested the 11th edition of the 10km event where Emma Pallant-Browne won the women’s race to underline her excellent 2026 form. The three-time World Duathlon Champion who produced a personal best 32:45 in August and won last month’s hilly Waterfall Half Marathon, crossed the finish line in 35:05 which was more than a minute ahead of runner-up Zanele Maisa (36:24) and nearly two minutes clear of third place Elizabeth Hutamo (36:52).
Running in Thembisa for the first time, Pallant-Browne admitted to enjoying the race even in the sweltering conditions, saying it’s all part of her broader plan to focus exclusively on running as she aims to represent the United Kingdom at the 2028 OIympic Games.
“This year I just wanted to have fun with all the races and get to know them as I strategically plan for next year,” said Pallant-Browne who is based in SA. “This is one of the flatter races in Joburg, so it was good to get that leg turnover going. It was still tough, still hot and still at altitude but that makes you stronger. The race was amazing.”
The 10km mass participation race was followed by a number of mile races from U10s to elite performers where Ryan Mphahlele emerged victorious in the elite men’s race. The Thembisa native who represented South Africa over 1500m at the 2024 Olympics in Paris won the 14th edition of the Thembisa Mile in 4:05. Although Mphahlele’s winning time was four seconds outside the 4:01 course record he set in 2021, it is the fastest time clocked in the men’s elite mile since the event moved to its new venue at the Olifantsfontein Sports Grounds in 2023.
“It was a last minute to race here because I raced yesterday,” he revealed moments after his historic win. “I wasn’t expecting to run quite this fast, it’s an accomplishment so I’ll take it,” said Mphahlele who secured a record fourth Thembisa Mile title as 17-yerar-old Tiisentso Malungane grabbed an eye-catching second place (4:06), with Johannes Morepe (4:09) rounding out the podium.
Reigning African 1500m champion Karabo More defended her title in dominant fashion as she ran 4:48 to finish eleven seconds ahead of Carina Sweigers, as Carise van Rooyen took third in 5:02.
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