HISTORY
Mother City Racing Magic
For a decade, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K has delivered some of the most exciting racing seen in South Africa, and grown into one of the most prestigious races on the African road running calendar.
The race originally featured a 12km route from 2015 to 2019, and the fast nature of the course saw Keny’ s Morris Gachage post the fastest time ever run for 12km, in 2017! Since 2022, the redesigned course has been shortened to 10km, to make this race a key part of South Africa’ s biggest and richest 10km series, with incredible races in five major cities all around the country. However, the course remains flat and easy-flowing, making it a really fast course!
To mark the 10th anniversary of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K, join us for a run down memory lane …
2016 … SA Best and Double Win
The second race saw a frenetic first kilometre covered in 2 minutes 41 seconds, with Kenyans Emmanuel Bett and Daniel Salel once again setting the pace. However, in close attendance were South Africans Stephen Mokoka and Elroy Gelant, and at 8km, the local athletes made their move, with only Salel able to go with them. It came down to a sprint finish between Mokoka and Salel, with the South African taking the win by one second in 33:34, shaving a massive 49 seconds off the previous SA Best
2015 … A Blistering Start!
The start of the RUN YOUR CITY legacy, with a unique 12km point-to-point course from Milnerton to the city centre and a carnival atmosphere never seen before in a race in Cape Town. Racing in near perfect conditions, Kenyan Emmanual Bett set a blistering pace from the gun, taking countryman Daniel Salel and Ugandan Timothy Toroitich with him. With 1km to go it was down to the two Kenyans, and it came down to a sprint for the line as both were awarded the same time of 33:32, just one second off
12km time by Mathews‘ Loop‘ n Val’ Motshwarateu, but narrowly missing the World Best time by three seconds.
The early pace in the women’ s race was set by South Africa’ s Lebogang Phalula, but Irvette van Zyl swept into the lead at 7km and went on to claim the title in 39:40, ahead of Lebo-Diana Phalula( 40:10) and Namibian Rutendo Nyahora( 40:31).
2017 … World Best Smashed!
The third race was dominated by Kenyan Morris Gachaga, who took the lead in the third kilometre and surged again at halfway, taking Lesotho’ s Namakoe Nkhasi with him, then went clear after another surge at 9km. Turning into Bree Street for the final 800m, Gachaga burst into a sprint and crossed the line in 33:27 to smash four seconds off the previous World Best for 12km, with Nkasi claiming second in 33:43, and SA’ s Elroy Gelant taking third for the second year in a row, in 33:54.( Note: Due to this course being a the World Best for 12km! The officials gave Bett the win by the narrowest of margins, and first South African was Elroy Gelant in fifth place.
The Women’ s race saw four-time World Champion and Olympic silver and bronze medallist Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya break clear just before halfway. She crossed the line in 38:32, with Yenenesh Tilahun of Ethiopia second in 39:17, and Lebo Phalula was third overall and first South African in 39:21.
point-to-point in stead of circular, it does not qualify for World Records.)
Cape Town-based British runner Tish Jones was the surprise winner in the women’ s race after taking control within the first 3km. She crossed the line in 39:50, ahead of a fast-finishing Nolene Conrad( 41:08), with another South African, Maria Shai, rounding out the top three in 41:14.
2018 … Gachaga Defends His Title
Race favourite Morris Gachaga successfully defended his title in a controlled race, crossing the finish line in 33:42 after a slightly slower, more tactical race than previous years. The Kenyan used his knowledge of the route to time his move perfectly and pass countryman Victor Chumo in the final 300m, winning by three seconds. Third was another Kenyan, John Langat( 33:47), while first South
African home was Stephen Mokoka, placing ninth in 34:17. 34 Run Your City Series
Uganda’ s Stella Chesang was widely tipped to win the women’ s race, having won the 10,000m title at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, but at 9km she could no longer hang on to the relentless surging of Kenya’ s Jackline Chepngeno. For the Kenyan, the victory in 39:12 was the perfect start to 2018, after taking 2017 off from racing to give birth to her son. Chesang was second in 39:28, while SA’ s Kesa Molotsana finished third in 39:53.