World Best under threat at 5th annual FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN
by Jacky McClean
The time of 33:27 – run by Kenyan Morris Gachaga on his way to victory at the 2017 FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN – will be under threat on Sunday, 19 May 2019. It was a course record and also the fastest ever time run over 12km.
The 5th edition of the race will take place this coming Sunday, and event organizers have pulled together arguably the best ever field yet assembled.
Not only are South Africa’s leading road runners, Stephen Mokoka and Elroy Gelant coming into close to their best shape ever, but a stellar field of international athletes has also been invited once again.
“It is the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN’s 5th anniversary and this year we can proudly boat with the Bronze Label status,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director Stillwater Sports. “What better way to add to the excitement than to assemble a really competitive field with some exceptionally fast runners.”
In addition to Mokoka and Gelant, the field boasts the likes of two time defending Champion and course record holder, Morris Gachaga who is back, looking to secure a hat trick of wins. Joining them will be young Kenyan sensation, Rhonzas Kilimo, Moses Koech, John Langat, Abdallah Mande from Uganda and Ethiopia’s Betesfa Getahun.
This exceptional field includes five athletes who have dipped under 28 minutes for the 10km. Mokoka’s 27:38 from 2015 is the SA Record. Moses Koech has gone 27:46, Kilimo 27:57, Langat 27:58 and Getahun 27:39 which he ran in Valencia earlier this year. Incredibly Gachaga has yet to post a time under 28 minutes, despite being the fastest half marathoner in the field with his 59:22 run in February this year.
Gelant has, with only base training, run 61:57 for the half marathon in April this year and won the recent Two Oceans Half Marathon in a new course record time of 63:20 on arguably one of the tougher half marathon routes in the country. His ambition for 2019 is to break 60 minutes for the Half Marathon, and based on what he has produced thus far, that is a very real possibility. The FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN would be the perfect place and opportunity to stamp his authority on some of the world’s best athletes.
The 2019 edition of the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN will be brutally fast with the promise of not only a new Course Record, but also a World Best, the current set by Gachaga in 2017. The diminutive Kenyan will be hard pressed to claim his third consecutive win though.
“I’m in good shape, really good shape. Elroy (Gelant) is also running well. I know I am in low 33 (minute) shape,” said Mokoka. “And with the guys coming out, I can guarantee it will be a fast race.”
The women’s race also promises to be one of the most competitive in years. Leading the South African charge will be an inform Kesa Molotsane who recently ran her second fastest 10km time ever, clocking 33:08 on 4 May. Molotsane boasts a best of 32:56 for the 10km and will look to improve on her third place from 2018. Also in the mix is Irvette van Zyl who is making 2019 all about running fast. Van Zyl came dreadfully close to breaking 32 min in October 2018 when she placed third in the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN, crossing the line in 32:06. Earlier this year, she made her Ultra debut at the Two Oceans Marathon and placed third. Van Zyl is a hard racer and flourishes when racing against strong opposition which makes Sunday’s race the perfect platform for her.
The foreign contingent is littered with talent. Back again is Stella Chesang, the 10 000m Commonwealth Games Champion from 2018. She finished second at the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN in 2018, but had not yet fully recovered from the Games in April. In 2019 she is on fresh legs and is aiming for the top rung of the podium. “My last race was the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark in March. Since then I have been preparing for this race, I want to go one better than 2018, and that means a win,” said Chesang.
She and the South African contingent face some stiff opposition though from the likes of Ethiopia’s Degitu Azamirew and Desi Jesi Mokonin. Azamirew recently ran 66:07 (Ras Al Khaimah, RAK Half Marathon) which places her 9th on the 2019 world ranking list. Mokonin was 7th at the 2018 World Half Marathon Championships in 2018 with a time of 68:10 and can also not be ruled out of the equation, especially not with a 31:19.00 time for 10 000m (Hengelo, 2017).
2017 champion Tish Jones cannot be ignored either. Jones won the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN in 2017 off the back of her 2:33.56 performance at the London Marathon. This year she has improved her marathon time in London by 2 minutes to 2:31.11. This is a deeper field though than when she won in 2017 and she may find herself a bit short of speed.
All in all, the 2019 edition of the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN promises fireworks.
EVENT INFORMATION: FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN
| Date: | Sunday, 19 May 2019 |
| Start Venue: | Woodbridge Island, c/o R27 and Loxton Road, Milnerton (Cape Town) |
| Finish Venue: | Bree Street (Cape Town, CBD) |
| Entry Fee: | Standard Entry: R185 (licensed) / R225 (unlicensed)
Gold Package Entry: R850 (licensed) / R890 (unlicensed) |
| Entries Close: | Monday, 06 May 2019 |
Charity Support: When entering online, runners can choose to make a monetary donation towards either or all four of the FNB Cape Town ONERUN Charities: 1. help2read, 2. Cotlands, 3. Die Burger Kinderfonds and 4. The Cape Of Good Hope SPCA.
EXCITING NEWS: At the 5th running of the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN gold medals aka “Morris Gachaga Medals” will be awarded to the first 100 runners that cross the finish line, while Silver Medals will be awarded to positions 101 – 500.
LIVE STREAMING: The FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN will be live streamed on:
Facebook: https://bit.ly/2Yqbgbt
YouTube: https://youtu.be/OFIS_AdJAh0
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CTown12
Monitor the event’s social media channels for the link and tune in from 08h15 on race morning to catch the action!
Facebook: @help2read / Cotlands / Ctown12 / CapeofGoodHopeSPCA / Die Burger Kinderfonds
Twitter: @help2read / @Cotlands / @CTown12 / @CapeSPCA
Instagram: help2readsouthafrica / Cotlands / CapeTown_12 / CapeSPCA Hashtag: #FNBRunYourCity
Website: www.help2read.org / www.thecapetown12.com
About the FNB Run Your City Series:
FNB is proud to once again bring you the FNB Run Your City Series which comprises of three unique mass participation events that integrate business involvement, family, diversity, investment in community, world class achievement and fun for all participants, both individuals and businesses alike.
Each of the races are developed to take participants through the historical routes around each city, thereby adding a tourism element to each race, making it more than a race but an economic opportunity for each community.
The FNB Run Your City Series is made up of three races around South Africa, namely, the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN, the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN and the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN.
For further information please visit www.runyourcityseries.com
