Held in partnership with the Motsepe Foundation and the City of Johannesburg, the ASA 10km Championships is incorporated in the Race to Gender Equality at Marks Park Sports Club in Johannesburg. And with strong line-ups announced, the pre-race favourites are expected to have to dig quite deep to clinch the national titles, but they will fancy their chances.

Mulaudzi and Xaba are preparing to compete over the 10km distance as part of the SA squad at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia at the end of this month. Although they are still in hard training for that event, they should be in good form.

Aiming for his first national senior title on the road, Mulaudzi is hoping to hold off the likes of Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) teammate Chris Mhlanga and Siyabonga Ndlovu of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA). Off the back of a breakthrough 2023 campaign, which included his first sub-28 minutes over 10km and the gold medal at the ASA Cross Country Championships, Mulaudzi is ready to get his 2024 campaign underway.

"Last year was the best season I've had in my life, so this year I'm looking forward to another great season," Mulaudzi said. "My preparation over the last couple of months has gone well and I'm hoping to finish in the top three at the ASA 10km Championships. It has been my dream to win this event since I was young, but if I can get a podium position I will be happy." Xaba recently travelled to Kenya, where she finished 28th in a domestic cross country race, as part of her build-up to the World Cross Country Championships. Though she admitted she had struggled to compete at the heart of the world's greatest distance running, Xaba said she had gained valuable experience in Kenya and she was confident of winning her third successive SA 10km title on the road.

In order to take the top step on the podium, however, Xaba will have to beat the like of Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) teammate Karabo Mailula, as well as CGA star Cacisile Sosibo and experienced Athletics Free State (AFS) athlete Kesa Molotsane.

"I'm looking forward to being in the top three and it will be a bonus if I can defend my title," Xaba said. "The race will also tell me how far I am in my preparation for the World Cross Country Championships."

Following a successfull maiden year in March 2022, the Race to Equality returns in its original offering of a 21.1km, but is now incorporating the ASA 10km Championships and 5km competitions.

Entries have opened online and the registration form can be accessed at https://secure.onreg.com/onreg2/front/step2.php?sessionname=c748d81015cc7d8c6419e5e50c d913bf&individual=true and runners can also contact Central Gauteng Athletics at 011 873 8670 for further information and assistance.

The entry fee for the 21.1km is R180, for the 10km is R120 and for the 5km it is R80. These, however, exclude online transaction fees. The half marathon will start at 7am, while the ASA 10km Championships - which is by invitation only through an ASA province, is at 7.30am. The start time for the 5km is 7.45am.

For the 10km event runners can only compete for the ASA Championships if selected and entered by a provincial body. International or foreign athletes are not allowed to run with an ASA provincial license and are required to purchase a temporary license or will face disqualification. (Refer to World Athletics rule 4.)

As standard practice, international or foreign athletes must provide a clearance letter from their national federation and submit to the organisers at clearance@athleticssa.co.za and the chief referee prior to the start of the event. Prizes will be withheld if this rule is not adhered to. International or foreign athletes must select their country of representation when entering and must use their passports as a form of identification. Race number collection is set for Marks Park Sports Club and scheduled for Friday 8 March 2024 from 9am - 5pm and for Saturday 9 March 2024 from 9am - 4pm.

The Race to Equality is a movement that calls for solidarity against discrimination. Hosted annually to mark International Women's Day. The half-marathon, therefore, is opened to everyone (male and female) who shares in the vision of building a gender equal and fair world. It is estimated that at the current pace it would take Africa 122 years to achieve gender equality. But if we race toward this goal together, we could achieve this quicker.

This fun, yet thoughtful initiative is brought to you by the Gender Equality, Wellness and Leadership (GEWAL) Unit of the Motsepe Foundation. The Motsepe Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic organisations on the continent and is in partnership with Athletics South Africa to celebrate the diversity among us and #BreakTheBias. Like our Facebook page: Athletics South Africa Instagram: asa_athletics_south_africa Twitter: @AthleticsSA_ Website: www.athleticssa.org.za About Athletics South Africa: Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics. The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg. Ends