Mokoka carries SA medal hopes
Late departure could dent team’s chances at world event
Stephen Mokoka will once again shoulder the nation’s expectations at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia, Spain tomorrow.
Rightly so, the 33-yearold has been South Africa’s top performer at the 21km global championships in the five times he has been there.
There is a bit of a snag though that could prove detrimental to Team SA’s ambitions: the squad was set to fly out last night as their visa only allows them entry on the eve of the championships.
“It’s a tough situation but we have to manage it. It will be tough, just hoping the body copes.
“If we get enough sleep, all will be good,” he said.
Despite the apparent hurdle, Mokoka still fancied his chances on the fast Valencia course in addition to the near-perfect racing conditions that have been predicted for tomorrow’s race.
“Shape is very good and confidence is also good. I am looking forward to the race.
“If the pace is quick, I just also wish to better my [personal best time of] 60.40.
“Anything under that will be good for me,” added Mokoka, SA’s best finisher at 10th place in the last edition in Cardiff, Wales two years ago.
There are also team prizes on offer tomorrow but South Africa’s chances for a podium finish will be determined by the aggregate time of individuals in the team. The team narrowly ended outside the medals in fourth place at the 2014 edition in Denmark when Mokoka (12th), Elroy Gelant (13th) and Lusapho April (15th) finished inside the top 20. Threats to Mokoka and company remains east Africans, with the Eritreans also showing their mettle of late.