"You have to believe in yourself" - Rising star Mpho Katiso targets Absa TSHWANE 10K success

Mpho Katiso will be one of the exciting young athletes to watch at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K on Sunday, 23 August 2026, as South Africa's next wave of female distance runners looks to step into the spotlight. With the likes of Glenrose Xaba and Tayla Kavanagh increasingly making their mark internationally, Katiso is determined to seize her opportunity.

The 19-year-old 1500m specialist who completed her schooling at Prestige College in the nation’s capital last year, is excited to make her Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series debut in front of the Union Buildings.

“I have never competed in any of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series races before,” says Katiso. “But I’d love to be there to feel the huge energy of a big race on a fast course. I’m looking forward to competing against the top elites again.”

Katiso in action on the track earlier this season. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

Now a student at the Tshwane University of Technology, Katiso has joined Violet and Caster Semenya’s coaching setup which boasts the likes of Glenrose Xaba, reigning African Championships 1500m gold medalist Karabo More and 2024 FISU World University Championships Cross Country Champion Karabo Mailula - making it SA’s foremost female only training group.

“Being part of coach Caster and Violet’s training group feels hard, but it’s also inspiring because you get mentorship, focus, discipline and you also learn to believe in yourself. I’m growing as a person and not just as an athlete. Glenrose, Karabo More and Karabo Mailula are more like sisters to me not training partners because we stick together and push each other. Training with them encourages me and I’ve learnt to show up even when it’s hard.”

Katiso's talent was polished while running track and cross country at Prestige College in Hammanskraal. Photo Credit: George Bradley.

Katiso, who is the owner of a 4:27.92 1500m personal best and produced a lifetime best 16:48 to grab the bronze medal at the national 5km championships in Gqeberha in June, understands the magnitude of the opportunity before her. She is aiming to use it as a springboard to improve on the 36:52 she clocked when she finished in 13th position and as the first junior at the SPAR Women’s Challenge in Tshwane on 1 August.

“Competing against seniors feels exciting and scary at the same time because everyone looks so confident, and you're standing there with a ‘J’ tag on. It feels like you're being pulled out of your comfort zone. But it teaches you about pacing and race tactics, and you also learn how to be mentally tough. It forces you to run with more courage and realise what's possible. You have to believe in yourself.”

“My target for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K is to challenge myself throughout the race and push my limits. The main target is to run a PB - and not just any PB, I’ll be targeting a massive PB!”