by RIËL HAUMAN
STATS & FACTS
by RIËL HAUMAN
Stats & Facts
Fastest at 5km
While the 5km road running distance has traditionally been seen as a mere fun run in South Africa , its global recognition as an official racing distance has seen a new focus on 5km racing in SA , and big changes in the all-time SA performance lists . ( With additional reporting by Sean Falconer )
In November 2017 , the 5km road running distance was introduced as an official World Athletics event , with the inaugural record to be recognised after 1 January 2018 if the performances were equal to or better than 13:10 for men and 14:45 for women . ( Faster times had actually been recorded in both categories prior to the distance becoming an official World Record event , but these were the minimum times chosen for the inaugural World Records .) Neither of these times was achieved in 2017 , so the best 5km performances of 2018 , both run at the Prague Grand Prix in the Czech Republic in September 2018 , were recognised instead . That saw the USA ’ s Bernard Kibet Lagat ’ s 13:30 become the first recognised men ’ s 5km World Record , while Kenya ’ s Caroline Kipkurui set the first women ’ s World Record after clocking 14:48 . ( Kipkurui now competes for Khazakstan .)
Since 2018 , both records have been lowered a number of times , and the current World Records are 12:49 for men , set by Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi in Barcelona , Spain in December 2021 , while there are two officially recognised women ’ s records , although both are the same time , and both were set by Kenyan athletes . In December 2023 , Beatrice Chebet clocked 14:13 in a women-only race in Barcelona , while in January 2024 , Agnes Jebet Ngetich posted the same time in Valencia , Spain in a mixed gender race .
The Fabulous Fives
Until recently , the long-standing SA Bests for 5km were Shadrack Hoff ’ s 13:30 from 2003 and Elana Meyer ’ s 15:10 from 1994 , both of which were run in the USA . However , the new focus on 5km racing has seen Ryan Mphahlele lower the men ’ s mark to 13:24 in Herzogenaurach ( Germany ) in April 2023 , followed by Maxime Chaumeton posting 13:18 in Al Khobar ( Saudia Arabia ) in December 2023 . The closest any South African woman has come to Meyer ’ s record was 15:17 , run by Glenrose Xaba in Durban in July this year , making it the fastest time by a local woman on home soil .
The exciting new Boxer Super Run events in Durban ( established 2023 ) and Tshwane ( first run this year ) have seen a number of local athletes run themselves into the country ’ s all-time top 10 for the distance , with Precious Mashele ’ s winning 13:39 in the 2024 Durban event , on his 34th birthday , becoming the fastest time ever run on SA soil and fifth-quickest on the SA all-time list . Meanwhile , Glenrose Xaba ’ s winning 15:42 in Tshwane is the second-fastest time ever by a woman on home soil , behind her own 15:17 of earlier this year . Luan Munnik ’ s 13:50 that won
10 Ryan ISSUE 175 | www . modernathlete . co Maxime . za Mphahlele
Chaumeton the Tshwane race was just one second slower than his PB , set in the Durban race , where he finished fourth .
SA ’ s All-time Top 10
The two lists below show the all-time list of the top 10 SA men and women in the 5km road running discipline . Note that secondary performances by the leading men and women are included , for illustration . Also note that Colleen de Reuck ’ s fastest time was run on an aided course , so her second time , run on a record-legal course , is listed as her official best in the women ’ s list .
TOP 10 MEN |
1 |
13:18 |
Maxime Chaumeton |
Al Khobar , 9 Dec 23 |
2 |
13:24 |
Ryan Mphahlele |
Herzogenaurach , 29 Apr 23 |
3 |
13:30 |
Shadrack Hoff |
Carlsbad , 13 Apr 03 |
13:36 |
Maxime Chaumeton ( 2 ) Riga , 1 Oct 23 |
4 |
13:39 |
Precious Mashele |
Durban , 13 Oct 24 |
5 |
13:40 |
Kabelo Mulaudzi |
Durban , 13 Oct 24 |
6 |
13:43 |
Chris Mhlanga |
Durban , 13 Oct 24 |
7 |
13:44 |
Johannes Mabitle |
Gardena , 7 Jun 98 |
|
13:44 |
Shadrack Hoff ( 2 ) |
Carlsbad , 7 Apr 02 |
13:44 |
Maxime Chaumeton ( 3 ) Paris , 5 Apr 24 |
8 |
13:47 |
Tsunaki Kalamore |
Gardena , 7 Jun 98 |
9 |
13:49 |
Luan Munnik |
Durban , 13 Oct 24 |
9 |
13:49 |
Elroy Gelant |
Durba , n 13 Oct 24 |
10 |
13:51 |
Thabang Mosiako |
Durban , 7 Jul 24 |
TOP 10 WOMEN |
1 |
15:10 |
Elana Meyer |
Providence , 16 Oct 94 |
2 |
15:17 |
Glenrose Xaba |
Durban , 7 Jul 24 |
|
15:19A |
Colleen de Reuck |
Clarksville , 9 Sep 95 |
3 |
15:20 |
Colleen de Reuck ( 2 ) |
Carlsbad , 27 Mar 94 |
|
15:31 |
Colleen de Reuck |
Carslbad , 26 Mar 00 |
4 |
15:36 |
Dominique Scott |
Norman , 3 Sep 16 |
|
15:40 |
Dominique Scott |
Carlsbad , 2 Apr 17 |
|
15:42 |
Glenrose Xaba ( 2 ) |
Tshwane , 10 Nov 24 |
5 |
15:45 |
Gerda Steyn |
Kingsley , 28 Aug 20 |
6 |
15:50 |
Tayla Kavanagh |
Riga , 1 Oct 23 |
7 |
15:51 |
Kyla Jacobs |
Riga , 1 Oct 23 |
8 |
15:52 |
Carina Viljoen |
Parys , 5 Apr 24 |
9 |
16:04 |
Carlien Cornelissen |
New Milford , 23 May 03 |
9 |
16:04 |
Lebo Phalula |
Bedfordview , 11 Jan 09 |
10 |
16:16 |
Karabo More |
Durban , 13 Oct 24 |
Glenrose Xaba
Precious Mashele
Images : Getty Images for World Athletics , Tobias Ginsberg , Gavin Ryan , Hoffie Hoffmeister / Athletics History & courtesy Olympedia , Dewald Steyn , IOC