BOIPATONG – A young athlete from Sebokeng has taken the athletics scene by storm.

This comes after he delivered a jaw-dropping performance at the 9Eight Eight 10km race recently.
At just 22, Lerato Vilakazi eliminated the competition and broke a record, cementing his name as one to watch on the local running circuit.

What makes the victory even more remarkable is how Vilakazi claims he didn’t attend the event to compete seriously.

Speaking to following his victory, Vilakazi said, “I went there just to stretch my legs.”

“I was thinking of doing about 8km because the previous weekend I had already run 21km at the Sasol Marathon,” he said.

Just after the start of the race, Vilakazi dominated the number one spot, leaving fellow competitors trying to close the gap behind him.

Vilakazi recently secured position six at the Sasol Marathon, clocking an impressive 1 hour and 17 minutes, a performance he says gave him the confidence boost heading into the Boipatong race.
But behind the rising star’s success lies a deeply personal story.

The young athlete revealed that his running journey began in primary school, but it was his brother, Vincent Gaopekwe, who truly shaped his path.

“I developed a love for athletics at school, but my brother pushed me. It wasn’t easy. At first, I thought he was punishing me,” he admitted.

“But he helped me become competitive. He was competitive himself, and that rubbed off on me,” he added.

Vilakazi also credits local development structure Sukuma Lutsha for sharpening his talent through disciplined training and strong support systems.

“For me, it’s not just physical activity; athletics is a lifestyle,” he said.