STEPHEN Mokoka, the new king of South African athletics, is expected to easily retain his 10km Championships title in Germiston on Sunday morning.

Mokoka, who has been dominating track, cross-country and road running events, is preparing for the World Championships in South Korea in August.

He is also busy preparing for his half-yearly examinations in sport management at Tshwane University of Technology. Mokoka's business manager Andries Lessing said: "Stephen has recovered from a bout of flu and is looking forward to the championships."

Athletics South Africa has put aside grand total of R158900 to pay for the prizes on the day of the championships, courtesy of the National Lottery Distribution Fund.

ASA board member Hendrick Ramaala said the winners in the senior men's and women's categories will walk away with a R15000 first prize. There is also an incentive of R50000 for the man or woman who breaks the SA record. Besides Mokoka, other runners who will be chasing the big prize include Boy Soke, Elroy Galant, Kgosi Tsosane and and Tshamano Setone.

In the women's section, Lebo Phalula, the newly crowned champion of the Port Elizabeth leg of the Spar 10km Challenge, is the favourite to clinch Sunday's title. Other women to watch out for are Lebo's twin sister Lebohang, Xintle Xiniwe, Irvette van Blerk, Mapaseka Makhanya and René Kalmer.