Qhubeka’s Mwahla raring to go
He had a PB of 32:00 in the 10km, 49:00 in the 15km and 01:10:54 in the 21.1km.
Following his steady improvement last year, and mentioned among the country’s top runners in 10km and the half-marathon, Qhubeka Athletic Club elite athlete Kabelo Mwahla, admitted he still has a long way to go before he could call himself a top runner.
Mwahla ended 2024 on a high when he was named the Sunward Park club’s athlete of the year at their end-of-season prize-giving, on December 6.
“I was not expecting to win this prestigious award. But it means a lot because it is the first big achievement in my life,” said Mwahla.
He summed up his brilliant season with a second place in the 10km with a PB of 32:00 at the Lesedi AC annual Reconciliation Day Half-Marathon in Vosloorus on December 16.
Among his successes in the past year was taking first place at the Joburg North Ultra half-marathon, winning the Tommy Malone Memorial 15km race in a PB 49:00 and a top-20 finish at the Waterfall City half-marathon.
“I worked hard in the past year. I have improved massively as a runner, which is always good,” he said.
Also Read: Mwahla and Quinn on top at Tommy Malone Race
After his performance in Vosloorus, where he was beaten to the title by Maxed Elite top runner Lesetja Papo, who finished fourth at the Soweto Marathon in November, Mwahla is now targeting a sub-31 in the 10km.
His biggest goal for the year is breaking the 30-minute barrier in the distance and ultimately representing the country in continental and global competitions.
“My goal is to keep improving. I am working towards running the 10km under 31 minutes. My current PB is a flat 32:00. If I achieve a sub-31, my next target is breaking the 30-minute mark.”
The runner acknowledged a sub-30 will require lots of work and will have to grind harder to start challenging for positions in the country’s lucrative races such as the Absa Run Your City series and Hollywoodbets 10km series.
While his career has been on an upward trend, it’s been no cigar, especially in races that feature the country’s elite runners. He got a taste of the mountain he will have to scale to earn the top runner badge when he finished the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km 30th in 32:34, in November.
Mwahla knows it is in big competitive races where he could improve and is prepared to put in the work.
“I want to run in those competitions and run the distance under 30 minutes like the elite runners in the country. But I still have a lot of work to do to get to that level,” said Mwahla.
“It is wonderful to attend those big races and be among the top runners. It encourages me because I hope that one day I will get to their level. My goal is to see myself dressed in our national colours.”
Also Read: Qhubeka’s Mwahla wins Joburg North Ultra half-marathon
