I don ’ t just want to be strong , I want to be in the top three
ROAD RUNNING
The New
SENSATION
Although he is still just 22 years old , Thabang Mosiako is quickly making a name for himself by taking on and beating the ‘ big guns ’ on the South African distance running scene , and he has some notable wins under his belt from the 2017 season , including an SA title . – BY REGGIE HUFKIE
This has been quite some year for North West Province-based Thabang . It started in January at the always hotly contested Dis-Chem Half Marathon in Johannesburg , where he cruised to a 1:05:53 victory , beating off the fierce competition of Desmond Mokgobu and Lucky Mohale to claim top spot on the podium . Then in April he lined up in the men ’ s 5000m final at the SA Senior Track and Field Championships in Potchefstroom , in a field containing two SA record holders , Elroy Gelant ( 5000m ) and Stephen Mokoka ( 10,000m ), and once again claimed line honours .
Unsurprisingly , that 5000m final enjoyed a blisteringly fast start , with Elroy leading the pack through 3000m in 8 minutes 15 seconds . Meanwhile , Thabang had worked his way through the field and found himself in third position as the bell sounded for the last lap , but the gap to Stephen and Elroy now seemed too big . However , summoning up every last ounce of speed , he somehow reeled in first Stephen , and had the spectators on their feet as he caught and passed Elroy with 30 metres to go to be crowned SA 5000m Champion .
GLORY IN JOZI
Thabang then added a third big title in September when he outran the SA 10km Record Holder Stephen to win the FNB Joburg 10K CityRun , and says it meant a lot to beat his role model : “ Stephen is the man who makes me go train every time , because I want be strong like him .” In the race , David Manja set the early pace , passing the 3km mark in 8:32 with 20 runners hot on his heels . As they approached the big descent past Ellis Park hill at the 4km mark , Thabang surged to the front and broke the leading group up , with only Stephen and Lucky Mohale able to go with him .
The trio went through halfway in 14:49 before Stephen opened a 20m gap , but at 7km Thabang was back with him , and at the top of the Constitution Hill climb , with 2km to go , the youngster took control of the race . He went on the win in 29:51 , with Stephen taking second 25 seconds later and Gladwin Mzazi coming through for third . Afterwards , he said , “ This victory means a lot to me because this is not simply a win … I was working very hard to be in the top three , but I saw myself beating this strong man , Stephen , on the last hill before 8km . Jozi is a very difficult place to run in , and it has many hills , so for me to run 29:51 is a great achievement .”
LATE BLOOMER
What makes Thabang ’ s success at 22 all the more impressive is that he only discovered his running talent late in high school . “ My coach , Spring Phakate , introduced me to athletics in 2011 , and in 2012 in Rustenburg at the South African Schools Cross Country Championships , I got position two in the under-17 boys ’ 6km ,” says the Human Resource Development student , who clearly has his eyes fixed on still bigger achievements in running . “ My long term goal is to bring home a medal for my country from the Olympic Games , and short term , well , I want to be fit and strong for any race , but I don ’ t just want to be strong , I want to be in the top three . On the track , I am focused on the 5000m , but my favourite race is the 10km on the road , and that is where I see myself dominating .”
In order to achieve that , the young man is hard at work in training with the rest of the Spring Training Group , as it is known , under coach Spring Phakate , and it helps that he is surrounded by serious racing pedigree to push him to new heights . The group includes FISU World Student Games Steeplechase champion Rantso Mokopane , Southern Region Half Marathon champion Joel Mmone , former South African junior 5000m champion Xaba Mavusa , and steeplechaser Dikotsi Lekopa , who was part of the SA team for the IAAF World Champs in 2015 .
But striving towards success on and off the field , like his training partners , means that Thabang enjoys a packed daily schedule . “ There ’ s only hard work at training , and we do two sessions most days . In the morning I go for my early run and after that I am on my way to class . After class it ’ s training again , and if I do not have a session , I just watch athletics videos so that I can learn more .” Judging by his results this year , he ’ s clearly watching the right videos !
I don ’ t just want to be strong , I want to be in the top three
Images : Tobias Ginsberg
16 ISSUE 100 NOVEMBER 2017 / www . modernathlete . co . za