Kabelo Mulaudzi didn’t just win the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday—he carved his name deeper into the fast-beating heart of South African road running. With a performance that gleamed like sweat on sunlit asphalt, the 27-year-old tore through Durban’s flat, seaside circuit in a scintillating 27:41—his fastest ever over the distance. It was his third consecutive sub-28-minute performance, a rhythm of relentless pace that now echoes like a metronome of mastery.
Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K Elite Start by Anthony Grote
Running with the controlled aggression of a cheetah stalking prey, Mulaudzi broke from the elite lead pack after 8 kilometres—his legs a blur, his mind tuned to the music of personal ambition. He surged past rivals like Elroy Gelant and Kenya’s Vincent Kipkorir, the latter a man with a 27:08 pedigree, as if he were flicking pages of old records waiting to be rewritten.
“I’m very happy to win the race,” said Mulaudzi, catching his breath but not his dreams. “The competition was good. The field was full of the fast guys. My target was to break the national record, which ended up not happening today. I think the pace was a bit slow in the first 5km which is why I ended up missing the record.”
That elusive South African 10km record—Adrian Wildschutt’s 27:28 from Gqeberha—still stands. But Mulaudzi isn’t finished. He’s a man in the thick of his peak, a comet not yet ready to fade.
“It wasn’t meant to be, but this is not the end of the day, as I’ll try to break the record again in future,” he said, eyes already scanning the horizon of Tshwane and Joburg, where the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES will next unfold.
“For now, my goal is to win the two remaining races.”
Elite Start of the @AbsaSouthAfrica @Durban10k pic.twitter.com/gUFbkgsNYN
— Adnaan Mohamed (@Adnaan1111) July 13, 2025
The road beneath his spikes may not have surrendered a national mark, but it did give him a bounty—R110,000 for the win and dipping below 27:45. It was a run lined not only with gold, but with grit.
Behind him, Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo stormed into second in a national record 27:47—a time good enough to win most races, but not on a day when Mulaudzi was painting the tarmac with fire. Kipkorir, running with the quiet menace of a coiled spring, had to settle for third in 27:48. And lurking just outside the podium was South Africa’s evergreen marathoner Stephen Mokoka, now 40, proving that experience can still tango with youth, finishing in a respectable 28:37.
While Mulaudzi lit up the men’s race like a flare in the night sky, Kenya’s Clare Ndiwa announced her arrival on South African soil with a thunderclap of a debut. Just 20 years old, she scorched the women’s 10km in a blistering 30:50—fending off a fierce challenge from compatriot Janet Mutungi (30:53) in a sprint finish that could have been measured in heartbeats.
Clare Ndiwa by Anthony Grote
“I’m happy to win, especially because it’s my first time racing in this country,” Ndiwa said through a translator, her smile as wide as the Durban coastline. “The race was well-organized, and the ladies gave me a tough time on the road. Surely, I’m going to come back to compete here in South Africa again.”
The women’s race was a ballet of blistering pace and competitive fire. Jesca Chelangat, the 2022 champion and pre-race favourite, had to settle for third in 30:58. South Africa’s Glenrose Xaba, never one to back down from a battle, placed fifth in 31:50, once again finishing as the top local woman.
“Racing here is always special,” said Xaba. “Every race teaches me something new, and I’m proud to represent my country among this kind of world-class competition.”
The Durban leg of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES continues to set the standard for urban road racing in Africa. With 10,000 runners packing the streets in a wave of colour, determination, and joy, the event has matured into more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of movement, momentum, and meaning.
“Congratulations to our men’s and women’s champions—Kabelo Mulaudzi and Clare Ndiwa—who proved to be the best of the best on the day,” said Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports.
“Durban’s fast, flat route never disappoints and continues to attract top performances. We’re incredibly grateful to the thousands of runners who took to the streets. Your energy is what makes this event so special.”
Behind every stride is a story. For Absa, it’s also about steps taken toward uplifting communities.
“What an incredible day at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K!” said Jabulile Nsibanyoni, Absa’s Head of Sponsorships. “The vibrant tapestry of our community truly came alive through every step, stride, and cheer. Whether you ran, walked, or supported from the sidelines, your presence made a powerful impact.”
Masses On Route Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K by Anthony Grote
The bank’s R1-for-1km Strava campaign continues to translate kilometres into care, donating R1 for every kilometre logged by a Team Absa member toward community upliftment.
As the runners streamed into the finish under the golden coastal sun, some with fire in their legs and others with peace in their souls, the message was clear: whether chasing records, medals, or memories—Durban delivered.
And for Mulaudzi, the clock keeps ticking—not as a countdown, but as a call to destiny.
