“I decided to come to South Africa because I heard that fast times can be run there. I heard about the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series and have seen the results online. First of all, I heard that South Africa is a nice place to be. Secondly that the organisation is very welcoming and last, but not least, that it has fast races and as I am trying to always improve myself, I am happy to come and give it a try on 7th April,” she explained.
Chepkorir heads to ‘The Friendly City’ in the shape of her life after setting a jaw-dropping 29:56 lifetime best at the
FACSA Castellón 10K in February during what was her first official 10km road race outside of Kenya. Her transition from a steeplechaser to a road runner is bearing fruit and the Kenyan is aiming to go even faster at the first Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series race of 2024.
“I am still very happy that I could run my first race outside of Kenya below 30 minutes. Recovery was good and I was immediately motivated to continue my training. I want to run fast again, depending on the day. But I am feeling well and want to still make use of that shape,” she said.
Stillwater Sports’ Managing Director and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, Michael Meyer, considers the participation of athletes like Yalemzerf Yehualaw and Diana Chepkorir in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series as beneficial, not just for road running, but for elevating the profile of South African sport as a whole.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Diana Chepkorir’s SA debut at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K in 2024,” says Meyer.
“Her participation adds an exciting dynamic to the race and underscores our commitment to bringing top talent to South Africa. Athletes like Chepkorir not only inspire us with their performances but also help elevate the standard of competition, which is crucial for the growth of the sport in our country. We look forward to seeing her compete and wish her the best of luck on race day.”