The inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K will start at 07:00 at the Kings Beach Precinct on Sunday 02 April 2023. Event organisers could not wish for a better start to the series as the country’s best will line up against a deep international field in what is sure to be a race that will set the benchmark for the rest of the series.
Seen at the official Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K Press Conference that was hosted at the City Hall (Gqeberha) on Friday 31 March 2023:
PHOTO 1 From left to right: Michael Meyer (Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series), Bassie Kamana (Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality MMC: Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture), Melikhaya Frans (local Elite Athlete), Mkhuseli Jack Deputy Executive Mayor Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and Pholushi Malesa (Absa Regional Executive, Everyday Banking Eastern and Southern Cape). PHOTO CREDIT: Richard Pearce
PHOTO 2 From left to right: Bassie Kamana (Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality MMC: Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture), Lebo Phalula (Elite Athlete SA), Neheng Khatala (Elite Athlete Lesotho), Diana Chesang (Elite Athlete Kenya) and Pholushi Malesa (Absa Regional Executive, Everyday Banking Eastern and Southern Cape). PHOTO CREDIT: Richard Pearce
PHOTO 3 From left to right: Bassie Kamana (Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality MMC: Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture), Precious Mashele (Elite Athlete SA), Melikhaya Frans (local Elite Athlete), Stephen Mokoka (Elite Athlete SA), Daniel Ebenyo (Elite Athlete Kenya) and Pholushi Malesa (Absa Regional Executive, Everyday Banking Eastern and Southern Cape). PHOTO CREDIT: Richard Pearce
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series GQEBERHA
“Gqeberha is a fresh and exciting addition to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series,” said Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Series. “Runners will be treated to a fantastic on route experience that highlights iconic city landmarks, includes magnificent views, and features lively performances from some of the city’s leading performing arts groups. We will also get to witness a world class elite race on home soil. This is fantastic both for the athletes and spectators alike. Together with the City, EPA, Title Sponsor, Absa and key sponsors such as PUMA, DHL, Chery, Garmin and Woolworths to mention just a few, we can’t wait to celebrate the event’s debut on Sunday.”
As has come to be expected in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series at the coast, the route is a fast one and with the line up assembled, running fans can expect nothing short of yet another world class performance.
Back is Kenya’s Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, the Commonwealth Games 10 000m silver medallist. Ebenyo is no stranger to the Series after winning the then Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 12K in 2021 and the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K in 2022, the latter in a blistering 27:34. The Kenyan boasts a 10km best time of 26:58 run in Valencia in 2022. He is in the mood for a fast time.
“A world leading time would be great,” said Ebenyo. Should he set a new world leading time then it will eclipse the 26:33 run by Berihu Aregawi. That time is also the second fastest ever run behind the world record of Rhonex Kipruto (26:24 – 2020) and will firmly place the race and the series on the global map.
Joining him will be Uganda’s Isaac Kibet who boasts a 27:41 10km best time and has run 28:03 at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in 2022. Ebenyo’s training partner, Asbel Rutto who ran 27:55 in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in 2022 is looking to go better this time round. The trio will face South Africa’s finest in Elroy Gelant (SA 5000m record holder), Precious Mashele, Stephen Mokoka (SA 10km and Half Marathon record holder) and local favourite, Melikhaya Frans.
“I will go with the front bunch,” said Frans. “I’ve trained hard and am in good shape and want to give the home crowd a good showing”.
“I’m in better shape than I have been for a long time,” says Elroy Gelant. “With the international competition and the likes of Stephen, Precious and Meli (Melikhaya Frans), we know this will be a fast race. I am excited.”
“You always know that the race will be fast in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series,” says Stephen Mokoka. “It is why we always come back. I will as always run to challenge the front guys.”
“I want to run a low 28min or faster,” says Precious Mashele. “With these guys we know it will be fast and, on the cards,”.
The women’s race will be no less exciting. Lesotho’s multiple National Record Holder, Neheng Khatala has confirmed that she’ll be taking part in the entire series and is looking to start the series with a bang.
“The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series always brings fast athletes and that helps to push me to run better, so I am excited to race in Gqeberha on 2 April,” says Khatala who boasts a best of 32:06 for the 10k. She could well dip under the 32min mark come 2 April. She will line up against Kenya’s Diana Chesang who ran 31:55 at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in 2022.
Newly crowned SA 10 000m champion, Glenrose Xaba will also toe the line in the hopes of further closing the gap on the international women. “I am looking forward to running a good time,” said Xaba who boasts a 10km best of 32:45.
With such a spectacular line up, the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K is bound to deliver fireworks and the thousands who have entered will also be treated to a running experience second to none with numerous entertainment and vibe points along the 10km route.
