The streets of Durban will be painted red this coming Sunday, 10 July 2022 as the world’s best runners #RunForDurban at the 5th annual Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K.
“We can’t wait to paint the streets of Durban red on Sunday,” says Michael Meyer Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series. “Some of the world’s best will be seen going head-to-head with the crème of South African Road Running. What makes the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series extra special is the fact that social runners also get the opportunity to rub shoulders with the elites over the fast flat course that starts opposite the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium and finishes on the Promenade in front of the Sun Coast Casino. We can’t wait to witness thousands of runners proudly wearing their stunning, red event t-shirts as they #RunForDurban. It’s going to be a day to remember.”
Spearheading the men’s race will be Uganda’s Isaac Kibet who is the fastest in the field with a best of 27:41 run in Lille, France in 2021. In March this year Kibet scorched to a 60:20 over the Half Marathon, also in Lille. Clearly the 26-year-old is in the shape of his life and will have a big bullseye on his back come race day. Kibet is unperturbed. “I want to come there to run my PB and am really grateful for the invitation extended to me by the organisers.”
Compatriot, Abel Sikowo is another sub 28min athlete, boasting a best of 27:58 run in Cannes in March this year. Both Sikowo and Kibet are acutely aware of the SA All Comers Record of 27:16 set by countryman, Olympic and World Champion and World Record Holder, Joshua Cheptegei at the 2018 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K and would love nothing better than to lower that time. All this points to a fast and furious race upfront come Sunday 10 July.
The Ugandans will face tough competition from Kenya’s Isaac Kipkemboi (second at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K in May this year) who boasts a 10km best of 28:04. Leading the South African charge is defending Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K Champion, Precious Mashele who represented South Africa at the Olympics in the 5000m in 2021 and will be again donning the Green and Gold at the World Championships later this month. Mashele wants to get as close to 28min as possible and shatter his Personal Best of 28:11 set in Durban in 2021. “I know I can get under 28min and it’s here that I want to do it,” said Mashele. Also returning is 2019 Champion and SA Record Holder over 10km (27:38), Stephen Mokoka. The pair will lead a plethora of South Africans that are looking to run faster than ever with the incredible incentives that are in place. The offer of R100 000 to any South African athlete who breaks 28min is a huge incentive for the best in the country to race hard.
The women’s race will be no less of a spectacle. Headlining the women’s field is the holder of four World Records, an Olympic Silver Medallist, and former World Champion, Genzebe Dibaba. The Ethiopian is gunning for the fastest time ever run on South African soil, 30:40, set by Stella Chesang at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K on 15 May. But Dibaba will have more than a fiery pace to contend with as she will need to keep a wary eye out on Kenya’s Jesca Chelangat, who was only 8 seconds behind Chesang in Cape Town. Dibaba finished third in that race and was quick to say after the race that she would be back. “I have unfinished business in South Africa, and I want to go faster than the 30:40 of Stella (Chesang).”
Also in the field are Lesotho’s multiple National Record Holder and second here in 2021, Neheng Khatala who will have South Africa’s Queen of the Road, Gerda Steyn breathing down her neck. Steyn and Khatala are training partners, but it will be all about racing on Sunday 10 July. After setting a new 5000m PB of 15:25.92 in Liege on 29 June, Glenrose Xaba will be a major threat and her 32:45 PB for 10km will surely fall. The stage is set for an epic showdown on Sunday 10 July.
EVENT INFORMATION: Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K
Date: Sunday 10 July 2022
Start Time: 08:00
Start Venue: Battery Beach Road (via Suncoast Casino)
Finish Venue: Durban Beach Front Promenade
ENTER at RACE PACK COLLECTION:
Venue: The Globe, Sun Coast
Date and Time:
• Friday, 08 July 2022: 09:00 – 19:00
• Saturday, 09 July 2022: 09:00 – 14:00
Charity Support: When entering the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K online entrants can choose to support five local
charities: 1. LIV Village, 2. TREE (Training and Resources in Early Education), 3. Durban & Coast SPCA, 4. iThemba Lethu and
5. Reach For A Dream Foundation (RFAD).
WIN a Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Urban at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K: All runners (and walkers) that enter the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K will stand a chance to win a stunning Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Urban vehicle on event day. To be in the running to win the vehicle you must enter the event, collect your race number and be on the start line.
#RunForDurban Campaign: Durban has been hard hit not only by the pandemic, but by riots and now severe flooding. Headline partners, Absa, PUMA, DHL, as well as the event itself have each committed to giving back R1 for every 1km run and/or walked at the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday 10 July. Just by entering the Durban event, each runner and/or walker will ensure that R40 is donated towards those that have been affected by the floods. The funds raised will be used to purchase non-perishable food items, shoes, clothing and blankets.
Exciting Time-Based Incentive Scheme: Stillwater Sports, the organisers of Africa’s leading road running series, the
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, have announced an exciting time-based incentive scheme that will reward SA’s elite runners on
a sliding-scale at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday 10 July 2022. To view the complete SA Elite Athlete Incentive breakdown, please visit https://bit.ly/2022D10KEliteAthleteIncentives
2022 Prize Purse Breakdown: To view the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K Prize Purse breakdown, visit https://bit.ly/2022RYCPrizePurseBreakdown
Facebook: @Durban10k
Instagram: @Durban10k
Hashtag: #RunForDurban #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
Websites: www.durban10k.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 RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K (launched in 2015), the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K (launched in 2017) and the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K (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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