While large prize purses in the country were usually reserved for longer distance events, and a shortage of middle-distance track races gave elite runners few opportunities domestically, Verster said the FNB OneRun race was an ideal chance for SA athletes to shine on home soil, with R300 000 in prize money on offer.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for the likes of Stephen Mokoka, Elroy Gelant and Gladwin Mzazi to get fast times and race sharp for the European season and the World Championships in Beijing in August," Verster said in a statement after the launch.

Verster, who coaches Gelant as well as 800m specialists Andre Olivier, Nijel Amos and Caster Semenya, was also delighted that the organisers had confirmed they would invite elite foreign athletes to participate in the inaugural race over the rarely run 12km distance, to be held on May 17.

"We need this kind of competition," he said.

"Our athletes are starved for it on home soil and it will be something special for the South African spectators to see.

"We are always watching this kind of racing on TV, and now it will be on our doorstep. It's fantastic." Local favourites Gelant and Mokoka were already confirmed in the men's field, while Rene Kalmer and Mapaseka Makhanya were set to line up in the race for the women's title.

"Running against the Kenyans and other international athletes here on home soil will be very good for me and other local athletes," said Mokoka, the SA 15km record holder and two-time Shanghai Marathon champion.

"We need this kind of competition at home, and with the home crowd support we will show them what we can do."