The 2024 edition of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY 10K series got underway in Gqeberha this morning with two young Kenyan athletes taking line honours in impressive style.
Running for the first time outside Kenya, 23-year-old Vincent Kibet Langat’s loping strides took him to victory in a personal best time in less than favourable conditions, while Diana Chepkorir, just 21 years, looked every inch the star-performer she has become in the past months with a comfortable win over a strong African field.
Four thousand runners took to the streets from Kings Beach – almost 15% up on that of last year’s inaugural Gqeberha run and a celebratin of the solid partnership between the Absa team, Eastern Province Athletics and the Nelson Mandela Municipality.
“Our aim is to be the City of Choice for sporting events and the Road Running Capital of South Africa,” said Bassie Kamana, Member of Nelson Mandela’s Mayoral Committee for Sport, Recreation and Arts and Culture. And judging by the success of the occasion, it would appear they are not far off achieving their goal.
While the storm winds that had threatened to blow the event away mercifully failed to materialise, the windy conditions were never going to allow a repeat of last year’s fast times, when South African Precious Mashele ran a national record of 27:35, but the tactical struggle which ensued made for an absorbing contest which was only resolved in the final kilometre as Langat eased away from Mashele to take line honours.
Langat failed by two seconds to reach his target of a sub-28-minute time, but he was more than happy with his 31 second personal best, his first opportunity to race at sea-level. The manner of his victory suggests this popular series may have unearthed another world beater, after hosting star athletes Joshua Cheptegei and Kenyan Daniel Ebenyo in their early years.
At 37 years, one of the veterans of South Africa’s road running elite, Elroy Gelant is as competitive as ever, and he overhauled Mashele in the final stages to snatch second place at the death in 28:17.
“I knew it was going to be difficult because of the wind. The first 2km we were into the wind, which meant that the race was going to be tactical,” explained the Boxer Athletics Club athlete.
“I told myself I want to run a confident race as I wanted to get something out of it. It’s a competitive run. In the last 400m, I nearly gave it to my teammate (Precious Mashele), but I thought no let me go for it as there was something left in me!”
In the women’s race Kenya’s Diana Chepkorir dominated as she led from gun to tape to win in 31:15, 24 seconds ahead of her compatriot Nancy Sang who crossed the finish line in 31:39, while Ethiopia’s Selam Gebre claimed the final podium position in 31:42.
Lesotho’s Blandina Makatisi set a new national record with her fifth place 32:05 finish, while Glenrose Xaba was the highest placed South African after stopping the clock in 33:04 for sixth position.
“An event like Run Your City creates an opportunity for runners who have never formally been part of running to experience some of the fun,” said EPA president Sticks Stiglingh, who achieved an impressive time of 45 minutes for a 69-year-old. “Then they might want to join a club, start more formal training and become part of the sport of running.”
Also experiencing the event from the road was Absa Head of Sponsorships, Brand and Marketing, Jabulani Nsibanyoni. “It was great to see so many people out there,” said Nsibanyoni shortly after crossing the line in 1 hr 15 min. “Everyone out there has a story. Your story about why you are running today matters.”
TOP 10 RESULTS: 2024 Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K
(RSA unless otherwise indicated)
Date: Sunday 07 April 2024
Start and Finish: Kings Beach Precinct
MEN
1 Vincent Kibet Langat (Kenya) 28:01, 2 Elroy Gelant 28:17, 3 Precious Mashele 28:19, 4 Thabang Mosiako 28:30, 5 Mathews Leeto 28:38, 6 Bongelani Mkhwanazi 28:44, 7 Maxon Kipngetich (Kenya) 28:45, 8 Chris Mhlangu 28:53, 9 Abere Mamo Haile (Ethiopia) 28:54, 10 Neil Van Der Merwe 28:55
TOP 10 WOMEN
1 Diana Chepkorir (Kenya) 31:15, 2 Nancy Sang (Kenya) 31:39, 3 Selam Fente Gebre (Ethiopia) 31:42, 4 Meselu Berhe Kahsay (Ethiopia) 31:51, 5 Blandina Makatisi (Lesotho) 32:05, 6 Glenrose Xaba 33:04, 7 Fridah Ndinda Mweu (Kenya) 33:18, 8 Cacisile Sosibo 33:32, 9 Diniya Kedir Abaraya (Ethiopia) 33:57, 10 Lebogang Phalula 35:22
