BAC’s Majetja clocks PB at Gallopers race
He smashed his previous 15km PB of 51:36 by 03:39.
Maphuti Majetja improved his lifetime best over 15km when he claimed a podium finish in the men’s race at the ASF Gallopers AC 15km and 5km race in Leondale on July 6.
The Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) distance runner clocked a personal best of 47:57 to finish third. He was just 20 seconds behind his training partner, Nkosiyethu Sotyantya, who won in 47:37, and runner-up Paul Omoya from Kenya, who finished in 47:40.
Majetja shaved an impressive 3:39 off his previous best of 51:36, which he set on the same course last year when he placed 12th, then running in the colours of Run Alex.
Reflecting on his race, Majetja said he had gone into the event confident that he could beat his PB, having seen a recent improvement in both speed and endurance.
“I usually pass 15km in 49 minutes when I run a half marathon, so I knew 49:00 was within reach,’ he said. ‘It was a much better performance. I stuck with the leading bunch.
“Early in the race, Maxed Elite’s Karabo Ntholeng, who I often compete against in the CGA cross country leagues, and I paced each other. He pushed me, but I dropped him after 8km. I then stuck with Nkosiyethu, who is my training partner, and the Kenyan athlete Omoya until the end.”
While thrilled with both the podium and his PB, Majetja credited a change in training for his breakthrough performance. After receiving advice from elite runners in Thembisa, he adjusted his training to focus more on speed work and increased mileage.
“I’ve changed how I train to incorporate more speed sessions and long runs,’ he said. “Last year, I trained alone, but I’ve since joined the Kanana Training Group in Thembisa after being advised by legendary runners to do more focused speed and mileage sessions.”
Although Majetja’s raw talent has long been evident, he attributes his rapid improvement to structured training, experienced guidance and the positive influence of his coach Eliya Mogoboya, a former elite long-distance runner with personal bests of 2:24:30 for the marathon and 1:08:45 for the half marathon.
“Since running with my training group, I’ve achieved PBs,” Majetja said. “The CGA cross country leagues and Rabie Ridge parkrun have also helped improve my endurance. I’ve improved a lot.”
Majetja also ran a 12:59 PB in the 4km race at the cross country league in Daveyton on June 28. He plans to contest the 4km event instead of the 10km at the ASA Cross Country Championships in September.
Before then, he will represent BAC at the F21 half marathon in Phalaborwa on July 26.
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