DURBAN – Gerda Steyn is one of many in the South African road running fraternity mourning the tragic death of her clubmate and 2023 Two Oceans half-marathon champion Mbuleli Mathanga ahead of Sunday’s Hollywoodbets 10km race in Durban.
Mthanga was found dead in a house at Ndwedwe, north of Durban, in the early hours of Thursday, hanging by the laces of his running shoes.
“It is alleged a man was found hanging from the roof of his girlfriend’s room,” Ndwedwe police said in a statement.
“It is alleged the couple had an argument. The deceased was found hanging from the laces of his running shoes and had an open wound at the back of his head.”
The 29-year-old had been preparing to compete in the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km race on Sunday.
Mthanga a two-time South African 10 000m champion and Steyn belongs to the Phantane Athletics Club. Mdu Khumalo, Mthanga’s coach at Phantane, is also the race director of the Hollywoodbets 10km race. The holder of KwaZulu-Natal 5,000m and 10,000m records had two children, a boy and a girl.
Mbuleli Mthanga and Mdu Khumalo Pic: Adnaan Mohamed
Steve Mkasi, the president of KZN Athletics described Mthanga’s passing as a massive loss to South African Athletics.
“We would like to pass our condolences to the Mathanga family as well as the Phantane Athletics club. I think as a province and as a country we have lost a great icon. Mbuleleli was a young up and coming runner who paved his path the right way,” Mkasi said at the Hollywoodbets press conference at a Durban Hotel on Friday.
Steyn, who smashed the Totalsports Two Oceans 56km record a day before Mthanga was crowned the Two Oceans Half Marathon champion in April, paid tribute to her clubmate.
“I am saddened by the loss of a wonderful young man and talented athlete,” said crowd favourite, Steyn who set a new Comrades Marathon best time for the Down Run on 11 June.
“My deepest condolences to his friends, family and the entire running community. We will miss you, Mbuleli Mathanga.”
In Mthanga’s abscence, Steyn will be the carrying the flag for Phantane AC where she will come up against 10km specialists in the form of Hollywood Athletic Club’s Neheng Khatala, Tayla Kavanagh, Cian Oldknow, the defending champion Cacisile Sosibo as well as the versatile Irvette van Zyl.
Cian Oldknow, Gerda Steyn, Neheng Khatala, Tayla Kavanagh and Cacisile Sosisbo Pic: Adnaan Mohamed
“Mixing it up with the shorter distances is not always the most comfortable thing for me to do, but it’s lovely to be here at the Hollywoodbets 10km and I am really excited and looking forward to the race on Sunday,” Steyn said about Sunday’s race.
“I am actually just about to start my marathon preparation. I didn’t want to miss this race and not be a part of it. It has always been an amazing race in the past.
“In terms of my form, I am not too concerned because I know this race is for the real 10km specialists. I am extremely comfortable with that, and I am really going to give it my all on Sunday. I am going to try and give a good performance and make a marker in the sand in terms of where I am currently and where I am heading towards,” added Steyn.
In the men’s race, former Hollywoodbets Durban 10km champion Collen Mulaudzi, is set to be part of the star-studded lineup. With fellow club runner Matthews Leeto, who is in a great vein of form from his recent victory at the Foskor half marathon. The field also includes Comrades Marathon gold medalist Nosikhona “Pitbull” Mhlakwana.
However, they will all be in one heck of a battle with the new kid on the block Kabelo Mulaudzi. The athlete from the Boxer Club stunned the big guns at the recent Absa Run Your City Durban 10k on 9 July by not only claiming victory, but also by becoming one of only six South Africans to dip under 28min in the 10k, thereby entering the level of world class.
Kabelo smashed 35seconds off his PB in winning the RYCS Durban 10k, clocking 27;56 He followed this up with a win in last week’s inaugural RYCS in Tshwane. He seems to be in irrepressible form and will certainly be a handful.
“I am hoping for a top three finish,” he said when asked about his goal on Sunday.
Collen Mulaudzi, Matthews Leeto, Kabelo Mulaudzi, Nkosikhona Mhlakwana Pic: Adnaan Mohamed
According to Greg Glossop, Chairperson of the Hollywood Athletics Club, the race initially was simple and started as a small event three years ago with just over 1000 runners
“The intention was just to give back to the running community. This year we sold out two weeks ago and have 5000 participants. I am excited not only for Sunday, but for next year and what this race can become in the future,” said Glossop.
Hollywood Athletics Club President Morgan Shandu said the aim was not only make this the richest 10km in the country but also the biggest 10km in the athletics calendar year, with this year’s race slogan #Asigijime directly translating to let’s run.
“Our mission is clear, we want to paint the streets of Durban purple, we have opened entries to 5000 runners and have sold over half in the first two weeks, this says a lot about the excitement for this year’s race” said Shandu.
The prize purse has increased to R342 500.00, marking a substantial increase from the previous year’s figure of R187 000, 00. The first male and female runners to cross the finish line will each secure R35 000.00. Second place will earn R27 500.00, while third place will take home R25 000.00.
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Here is the fast and flat route that runners will navigate on Sunday 3 September 2023:
