LONDON - A super-charged Steven Mokoka of South Africa tactically won the Great South 10-mile international road race in Portsmouth, England, yesterday.

Mokoka, racing in unfamiliar cold whether on the southern coast of the country, outsprinted Ayad Lamdassen of Spain to take the honours in a time of 46 minutes and 40seconds.

The Spanish runner took the initiative upfront with a burst of speed when the finishing line was on sight but Mokoka responded with a ferocious kick to destroy him and other opponents, including London Olympic Games medallists Tariku Bekele of Ethiopia and Abel Kirui of Kenya.

Tariku Bekele, the young brother of the great Kenenisa Bekele, who stayed in contention all the way, finished third while Kirui, the pre-race favourite, stumbled to a disappointing sixth place behind British champion Andrew Lemonchelo.

The 27-year-old Mokoka, who was a late entry into the competition, demonstrated confidence from start to the end, toying around with the pace in front and drifting backwards several times.

"I am happy to have won the race. I was disappointed in 2009 when I was narrowly beaten by Mo Farah of Great Britain," he said.

Mokoka, Bekele and Kirui were the only elite runners from Africa out of a field of well over 25,000 starters.

In the women's section, Berhane Adere of Ethiopia was the only top runner from the continent in the women's division and finished a credible third place.