The countdown to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K has burst into full sprint, with South African road running veterans Stephen Mokoka and Kabelo Mulaudzi preparing to lock strides once again with Ugandan superstar Joshua Cheptegei in a race already crackling with expectation.
Eight years after Cheptegei scorched Durban’s streets with a breathtaking South African All-Comers record of 27:16, the two-time Olympic champion returns to a sold-out event that promises another feast of furious feet and flying finish-line dreams.
For Mokoka, the reunion carries the weight of history and the scent of unfinished business.
“It was a great event because of his presence. It was the first time a sub-28-minute 10km was run in South Africa. We witnessed that thanks to Stillwater Sports, which continues to bring the world’s biggest names to our shores. We also saw the European record being broken. Having an athlete of his calibre in our country made it a special occasion, and I’m looking forward to racing against him again,” said Mokoka.
The former South African 10km record holder believes Cheptegei’s return is another giant stride for local athletics.
“It’s a great opportunity for emerging athletes to compete against one of the best athletes and a world record holder. It also shows how far the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has come.
“If you can attract someone like Joshua after winning Olympic and world titles, while also giving athletes like Kabelo Mulaudzi the chance to compete against him, you’re creating healthy competition. The younger athletes won’t be afraid to push the pace, while Joshua will want to remind everyone of his class.”
Mulaudzi knows exactly how transformative that opportunity can be. The man who has collected six RUN YOUR CITY victories since racing Cheptegei as an emerging athlete in 2018 says the series opened international doors that once appeared locked.
“I am extremely grateful to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series because it created opportunities for me to compete internationally. My invitation to the Great Manchester Run came through those performances, and I believe the organisation of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is every bit as world-class.”
Now chasing another personal breakthrough after setting a lifetime best of 27:41 in Durban last year, Mulaudzi believes racing a legend can turn fast legs into fearless ones.
“I have always enjoyed racing against athletes who are better than me. It’s a privilege to line up with Joshua again, and I hope competing against him will bring out the best in me and everyone else in the field.”
Stillwater Sports Managing Director Michael Meyer says Cheptegei’s return reflects how the series has grown into a global magnet.
“Joshua Cheptegei’s return to Durban is a significant moment for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series and for South African road running.
“We remember very clearly what his presence meant in 2018, when he became the first athlete to break the 28-minute barrier on South African soil and delivered an extraordinary SA All-Comers Record.
“That race also produced a European record and inspired performances across the field, including Stephen Mokoka and a young Kabelo Mulaudzi who is now one of our leading athletes.
“It speaks to the growth of the series that we are able to attract athletes of Joshua’s calibre, and equally important is the opportunity it creates for our local runners. Athletes like Mokoka and Mulaudzi thrive on this level of competition, and it raises the standard for everyone involved.
“When the best in the world line up in our races, it elevates the event, inspires the next generation, and reinforces the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series as a truly world-class platform.”
On Sunday morning, Durban’s roads will become a roaring runway where reputations race alongside stopwatches. The city’s tarmac has witnessed history before. Now it waits, almost impatiently, to see whether lightning can lace up its running shoes once again.
