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Pretoria – Now in its fourth year the TomTom Tembisa Street Mile Race is looking to reach a higher status as the event seeks IAAF bronze label status.
Race organiser Donald Matipa announced a star-studded field for this year’s Mile that will take place on 8 November in the Ekurhuleni Township.
“We intend to return the mile to prominence on the South African athletics landscape by elevating and celebrating the historic distance,” Donald Matipa said.
“Our idea for the future of this mile is to get an IAAF bronze label and grow the race and internationally we want it to be in the same class as the 5th Avenue Mile in New York and the City of London Mile.”
Moscow world bronze medallist Johan Cronje, who won the race in 2013 after he claimed South Africa’s only silverware at the global championships, will be running in this year’s race.
After an absence of almost two years, Beijing 2008 Olympic finalist Juan van Deventer will also participate in the race while the 2013 Tembisa Street Mile champion Dumisane Hlaselo has also been entered.
The elite women’s race promises to be a proper tussle for first place with defending champion Lebogang Phalula heading a strong field.
She will go up against top distance runner Mapaseka Makhanya and 2013 mile winner Lorraine Novela.
The event also includes a 10km race that will also attract some of the country’s top road-running athletes.
Lucky Mohale will defend his title in the men’s 10km race where he will line up against the likes of Gladwin Mzazi, Sibusiso Nzima and Elroy Gelant.
Two-time Olympian Rene Kalmer will be among the elite women that will be running in the women’s 10km with Lebo Phalula confirmed to defend her title.
Multiple South African race-walking record holder Lebogang Shange will be defending his title in both the walkers mile and the 10km walk.
“The TomTom Tembisa Street Mile is a flagship athletics event for our community. It is a unique race that aims to revive athletics and promote health and fitness to local residents as part of its primary objectives,” Mathipa said.
The race will be open for runners of varying ability that includes elite athletes, amateur runners, and children under the age of 15. Walk or run, the event now also includes a 10km company challenge.
