Hot on the heels of one of the fastest men’s and women’s races over 10km at the Absa DURBAN 10K CITYRUN (hosted end October), comes the announcement that 2016 Absa CAPE TOWN 12K CITYRUN winner, Stephen Mokoka and Lesotho’s rising star, Neheng Khatala would be heading to Cape Town for the Absa CAPE TOWN 12K CITYRUN on Sunday 21 November.
Stephen Mokoka won here in 2016, clocking 33:34 and is eager to repeat that time. “I will be very happy to run 33:30 in Cape Town,” said the runner up of the 2021 Absa DURBAN 10K CITYRUN. “I know Morris (Gachaga) and Daniel (Simiu Ebenyo) will be coming and that they are targeting the World Best for the race (33:27), but for me, I will be happy with 33:30. I want to go through 10km in about 28:05 or 28:10. That will give me a 33:30. If I can get that, then I know I will be in with a chance for the win.”
Already confirmed are Absa DURBAN 10K CITYRUN winner, Precious Mashele, the fastest man in the world over 12km, Morris Munene Gachaga (run at the Absa CAPE TOWN 12K CITYRUN in 2017) and Olympian and sub 13min 5000m runner, Daniel Simiu Ebenyo. It was Ebenyo who first threw down the gauntlet to chase the World Best time of Gachaga.
Mokoka has learned to pick his races over the years, and freely admits that at the age of 36, he cannot race as much as he used to. So his appearance at the Absa CAPE TOWN 12K CITYRUN, will have been well planned and he will be on top form when he arrives in the Mother City.
Mokoka has had a mixed year, with his biggest focus, the Olympic Marathon, not going to plan, having to withdraw close to 30km while clutching his stomach. He made up for that disappointment as much as possible by winning the Cape Town Marathon title again in mid-October, before having to settle for second behind friend and rival, Precious Mashele at the Absa DURBAN 10K CITYRUN on 31 October. In a race that saw the top ten men all clock Personal Bests other than Mokoka, he nevertheless ran his second fastest time on SA Soil with his 28:15 behind Mashele’s 28:11.
Now Mokoka will return to the Mother City to face Mashele, Gachaga and Ebenyo over 12km. And if Mokoka is in the race, it is guaranteed to be one not to be missed.
Khatala makes 12km debut:
The first big name to be announced in the women’s race is Lesotho’s Neheng Khatala who finished runner up to the rising star, Tayla Kavanagh in the women’s Absa DURBAN 10K CITYRUN on 31 October. In that race it was the local girl, Kavanagh, who did all the pacing and in the end had the stronger legs to storm away and win the race in a PB of 32:10. Khatala too ran a massive PB in finishing second, clocking 32:18. The Lesotho athlete took just over a minute off her previous best (33:21) which she had run in Gqeberha on 9 October.
It has been quite the year for Khatala. In May she qualified for the Olympic Marathon, running 2:28.06 (a National Record) in Cape Town, before finishing 20th in Tokyo with a 2:33.15. She also ran a Personal Best and National Record over 10 000m in Durban in March, clocking 33:46.39.
Now she will line up as one of the favourites, if not the favourite, at the Absa CAPE TOWN 12K CITYRUN on 21 November. “It will be the first time I run over 12km,” said Khatala from Lesotho, “so I am hoping to do well. I will run as fast as I can and hope the ladies will also push so we can run a fast time.”
The course record for the 12km is 38:22 run by Olympic and World Championship Gold Medallist, Vivian Cheruiyot in 2015. Based on Khatala’s 10km time in Durban, we could expect to see a finish time of around 38:30 to 38:40.
EVENT INFORMATION: Absa CAPE TOWN 12K CITYRUN
Date: Sunday 21 November 2021
Start Venue: Woodbridge Island, Milnerton
Finish Venue: Lower Long Street, Cape Town CBD
Entry Fee:
• Standard (Licensed Runner): R 225.00
• Temporary License: R 40.00
CHARITY SUPPORT: When entering the 2021 Absa CAPE TOWN 12K CITYRUN online runners can choose to support five local charities: Die Burger Kinderfonds, Cape of Good Hope SPCA, Cotlands, help2read and Reach for a Dream.
Facebook: Ctown12
Instagram: @capetown_12
Hashtag: #RunYourCity
Websites: www.thecapetown12.com
About Absa
Absa Group is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups.
Absa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and insurance.
Absa operates in fourteen countries. The Group owns majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Absa Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia and has insurance operations in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia. Absa also has representative offices in Namibia and Nigeria, and securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States.
For further information about Absa Group Limited, please visit www.absa.africa
About the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
A proudly South African mass participation road running series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has been revolutionizing the sport since 2015. A road running celebration like no other, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series comprises three unique events namely the Absa CAPE TOWN 12K CITYRUN (launched in 2015), the Absa DURBAN 10K CITYRUN (launched in 2017) and the Absa JOBURG 10K CITYRUN (launched in 2016).
A diverse road running series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series integrates businesses, families, investment in community, world class achievement and fun for all participants.
For further information please visit https://runyourcityseries.com/
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