Stephen Mokoka is already eyeing up another Great Run appearance after his brilliant second place at the Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth on Sunday. Mokoka despite winning the Bupa Great North 10km in July came to the 20th staging of the south coast event relatively unknown even after finishing eighth in the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships a fortnight earlier.
But the 23-year-old was quietly confident of his ability and it took a superhuman display from Britain's Mo Farah to snatch the race when winning by just a second in a very fast time of 46 minutes 25 seconds.
Mokoka despite missing what would have been the biggest victory of his career was delighted after setting the fastest time ever achieved by a South African athlete over the 10 miles distance.
The sports management student from Pretoria admitted he was amazed at the high profile stature of the Bupa Great South Run and his reception from everyone he met during his stay in Pompey.
Mokoka is now considering running at the Bupa Great Winter Run in the New Year considering cross country a key factor in his development as a world class distance runner.
"I would like to race in Edinburgh if I get an invite," Mokoka said, although admitting he isn't a cold weather fan but knows cross country is inevitably staged in adverse conditions.
"I'd like to thank the organisers for inviting me to both the Great North 10km and now here, it's very rare to run overseas and I was very surprised to get such experience," he added.
"I am normally used to running locally except when at an IAAF Championships event. Getting the opportunity to compete in Britain has been most welcome. The people in Sunderland - they were great. I felt like I was home, it was really nice experience. Even here it's the same thing so I'm really enjoying myself."
Mokoka admits fellow countryman Hendrick Ramaala a former champion in both the Bupa Great North and South Runs has been an idol and he is determined to follow in his footsteps.
Since I started athletics in 2001 I've been hearing about him," the South African half marathon champion said. "Even now I still do and he clearly inspires me and he's been on the top of the world for a long time."
Mokoka also praised his coach Michael Semen who has had a great influence in developing his career for the last four years. "We call him "sponge", Mokoka said.
“He's the person who guides and motivates me every time I do things. He tells me 'do this and then do that,' and I listen to him because if I do I know I can go far. I met him in 2005; then my coach moved to Pretoria University. I decided to move to be closer to him, to be able to work together because I believe he can advise me, he can tell me what to do."
Mokoka looking to the future added: "For next year I will start by qualifying for the Commonwealth Games at 10000m and I will strengthen myself by competing at cross country.
“After that I will be focused on the track then in 2011 I will be trying my first marathon because I will be 27 then. I'm going to try the marathon so that I can then run my second marathon at our trials trying to qualify for the Olympics in 2012."
When will the Great Run Series see him next? "I like cross country a lot. I hope I might be in Edinburgh," Mokoka said.