With only one race remaining in the 2024 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, the cream of South Africa’s top runners are gearing up for an intense showdown against their East African rivals.
Reigning Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K champion, Elroy Gelant, and newly crowned SA 10km Cross Country champion, Kabelo Mulaudzi, are set to go head-to-head with Kenya’s Gideon Kipngetich at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on National Heritage Day, 24 September.
The unheralded Kenyan, Gideon Kipngetich, was the surprise standout at last month’s Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K, finishing second behind Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo after leading for nearly 9km.
Kabelo Mulaudzi, who finished third in that race, just ahead of Elroy Gelant in fourth, admits they underestimated Kipngetich—a mistake they won’t be making again in Joburg.
“He is a very tough guy and I respect him a lot. He is dangerous because he is a strong front runner and he can get away from you without giving you a chance to close the gap,” Mulaudzi explained.
But for the man who claimed the runner-up position at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K, beating Kipngetich is not his primary objective.
Gideon Kipngetich celebrated his Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series debut in Tshwane last month. PHOTO CREDIT: Action Photo
“My goal is to finish the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series on a high note. That means I am targeting a podium finish again and perhaps if I can be in the mix with 1 kilometer to go, I can sneak a win from Gideon and the other runners,” he added.
Gelant plays his cards slightly closer to his chest. Poised to rewrite the history books by becoming the first athlete to achieve five consecutive Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series top ten finishes in a single calendar year, the Boxer Athletics Club veteran says only that he aims to do well in The City of Gold to end off a magnificent season during which he claimed a celebrated eleventh place in the marathon at #Paris2024.
“After the Olympics, my initial plan was to relax and recover, but I found my competitive spirit hard to resist, which is why I am still motivated to participate in the remainder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series.
“For the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K, I want to give my best, so my coach and I included some speed track workouts to stay sharp, especially after the Olympic Marathon,” says Gelant.
Glenrose Xaba Photo: Action Photo
In the women’s race, Glenrose Xaba is the outright favourite to win the highly anticipated 10km run through the Johannesburg CBD after setting a new 10km SA Record of 31:12 at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in July and winning last month’s Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K in 31:51 which was the fastest 10km time ever run by a South African women at altitude.
“We’re thrilled to have such a stellar lineup for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K, with top athletes like Elroy Gelant, Kabelo Mulaudzi, Kenya’s Gideon Kipngetich, and Glenrose Xaba all in the mix.
“The competition is sure to be fierce, and it promises to be a truly exciting race. There’s no better way to close off what has been a fantastic 2024 series, especially on National Heritage Day.” – Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder.
