Seen Here: At just 19, Mpho Katiso is set to make her highly anticipated Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K debut on 23 August, taking on an elite field as she targets a massive personal best. Guided by the coaching expertise of Caster and Violet Semenya and inspired by training alongside some of the country’s top athletes, Katiso is embracing the challenge with confidence and ambition. Photo Credit: Tshwantsho Media
PRETORIA – South Africa’s exciting new generation of middle and long-distance runners continues to gather momentum, and 19-year-old Mpho Katiso is determined to announce herself on one of the country’s biggest road running stages when she makes her debut at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K on Sunday, 23 August.
With established stars such as Glenrose Xaba and Tayla Kavanagh increasingly making their mark on the international circuit, Katiso believes the prestigious Tshwane race offers the perfect opportunity to showcase her own potential against an elite field.
The talented 1500m specialist, who completed her schooling at Prestige College in Pretoria last year and is now studying at the Tshwane University of Technology, will compete in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series for the very first time.
“I have never competed in any of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series races before,” Katiso said.
“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.”
Learning from champions
Katiso’s rapid development has been strengthened by joining the renowned coaching setup led by Olympic champion Caster Semenya and coach Violet Semenya.
The elite women’s training group includes some of South Africa’s finest distance runners, among them national road running sensation Glenrose Xaba, African 1500m champion Karabo More and FISU World University Cross Country champion Karabo Mailula.
Rather than seeing them as rivals, Katiso describes the accomplished athletes as sisters who continue to inspire her daily.
“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 than 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.”
Building momentum
Despite still being in the early stages of her senior career, Katiso has already demonstrated impressive progress during the 2026 season.
She owns a personal best of 4:27.92 over 1500 metres and claimed the bronze medal at the South African 5km Championships in Gqeberha after clocking a lifetime best 16:48.
More recently, she crossed the line in 36:52 to finish 13th overall and first junior at the SPAR Women’s Challenge in Tshwane on 1 August.
Those performances have given the young athlete confidence that she can produce another significant improvement when she lines up in front of the Union Buildings.
“My target for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K is to challenge myself throughout the race and push my limits,” she said.
“The main target is to run a PB – and not just any PB, I’ll be targeting a massive PB.”
Embracing the challenge
While competing against South Africa’s established senior athletes can be intimidating, Katiso believes racing stronger opposition has accelerated her development.
“Competing against seniors feels exciting and scary at the same time because everyone looks so confident, and you’re standing there with a ‘J’ tag on,” she explained.
“It feels like you’re being pulled out of your comfort zone. But it teaches you about pacing and race tactics, and you also learn how to be mentally tough. It forces you to run with more courage and realise what’s possible. You have to believe in yourself.”
Platform for future stars
Stillwater Sports Managing Director and Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series founder Michael Meyer believes the Series continues to play an important role in identifying and developing South Africa’s next generation of elite athletes.
“We’re excited to welcome Mpho Katiso to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series for the first time,” Meyer said.
“At just 19 years old, she has already demonstrated tremendous potential, and it’s encouraging to see her embracing the challenge of racing against some of South Africa’s best athletes.”
“One of the defining characteristics of the Series is the opportunity it provides for emerging talent to compete alongside established stars, and we’re confident that experiences like these will play an important role in Mpho’s development.”
Sold-out spectacle awaits
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K has officially sold out, with thousands of runners expected to take to the streets of the capital on 23 August.
The race starts and finishes on Stanza Bopape Street in Arcadia, beginning at 08:00, and promises another thrilling chapter in the country’s premier road running series.
For Katiso, however, the race represents far more than another competition. It is an opportunity to measure herself against South Africa’s best, continue her remarkable rise and take another confident step towards becoming one of the nation’s leading distance runners.
If her recent performances are anything to go by, spectators may well be witnessing the emergence of South Africa’s next road running star.
