Mpho Katiso will be one of the exciting young athletes to watch at the Absa Run Your City Tshwane 10km in two weeks’ time. With the likes of Mzansi’s top runners Glenrose Xaba and Tayla Kavanagh increasingly making their mark internationally, Katiso is determined to seize her opportunity.
The 19-year-old 1 500m specialist who completed her schooling at Prestige College in the nation’s capital last year, is excited to make her Run Your City series debut in front of the Union Buildings.
“I have never competed in any of these series and races before,” says Katiso. “But I’d love to be there to feel the huge energy of a big race on a fast course. I’m looking forward to competing against the top elites again.”
Now a student at the Tshwane University of Technology, Katiso has joined Violet and Caster Semenya’s coaching setup which boasts the likes of Xaba, reigning African Championships 1 500m gold medalist Karabo More and 2024 FISU World University Championships Cross Country Champion Karabo Mailula – making it South Africa’s foremost female-only training group.
“Being part of coach Caster and Violet’s training group feels hard, but it’s also inspiring because you get mentorship, focus, discipline and you also learn to believe in yourself. I’m growing as a person and not just as an athlete. Glenrose, Karabo More and Karabo Mailula are more like sisters to me not training partners because we stick together and push each other. Training with them encourages me and I’ve learnt to show up even when it’s hard.”
Katiso, who is the owner of a 4:27.92 1 500m personal best and produced a lifetime best 16:48 to grab the bronze medal at the national 5km championships in Gqeberha in June, is aiming to use it as a springboard to improve on the 36:52 she clocked when she finished in 13th position and as the first junior at the Spar Women’s Challenge in Tshwane on August 1.
“My target for the Tshwane 10km is to run a PB – and not just any PB, I’ll be targeting a massive PB,” she added.
- Mpho Katiso, a 19-year-old 1500m specialist, will debut in the Absa Run Your City Tshwane 10km race in front of the Union Buildings.
- Katiso graduated from Prestige College last year and is now a student at Tshwane University of Technology.
- She trains under the coaching setup of Violet and Caster Semenya, which includes elite athletes like Glenrose Xaba, Karabo More, and Karabo Mailula.
- Katiso has a personal best of 4:27.92 in the 1500m and recently won bronze at the national 5km championships with a time of 16:48.
- She aims to achieve a massive personal best in the Tshwane 10km, improving on her previous 36:52 finish at the Spar Women's Challenge.
