Mokoka targets another record

Wesley Bo on

After producing the performance of his career at the weekend, Stephen Mokoka (above) hopes his spectacular effort will earn him a place at the Prefontaine Classic later this month, as he targets his third national record of the year.

The 29-year-old athlete, who broke Shadrack Hoff ’s 20-year-old national 5 000m mark in Stellenbosch last month by charging to a solo 13:11.44, confirmed he was in the shape of his life at the Great Manchester Run on Sunday.

While he settled for second place after putting up a brave fight against Kenyan Stephen Sambu, he smashed the longest-standing SA 10km record, clocking 27:38 to improve Matthews Motshwarateu’s 35-year-old standard by 22 seconds.

“I wasn’t surprised with my time, but I’m very happy with the run,” Mokoka said yesterday.

“I was just aiming for a personal best because it was such a strong field, and travelling here all I had in my mind was that I wanted to improve on my best time (28:12).”

Mokoka lost out to Sambu by eight seconds, but held off the rest of the world-class line-up, which included 10km world record-holder Leonard Komon, former world 5 000m champion Bernard Lagat, former marathon world recordholder Wilson Kipsang and Ethiopian legend Haile Gebreselassie.

He hoped taking all those scalps would help him earn a place in the men’s 10 000m race at the Prefontaine Classic, a Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon, on May 29.

Provided he received an invite, the four-time world Student Games medallist was expected to tackle the SA 10 000m record of 27:29.94 set by Hendrick Ramaala in 1999.

“I really want to go to Eugene, but they have not confirmed anything,” he said.

“I’m waiting to hear if my manager can get me in, but the Diamond League is for the big guns so I’m just hoping they give me a place in the field.”

I wasn’t surprised with my time, but I’m very happy with the run. Stephen Mokoka South African athlete