Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K 2025 May 2025 | Page 35

2021 … Slowed by the Wind

With no race in 2020 due to COVID, the race eventually returned in late 2021. While the average winning margin in the first five editions had been just four seconds, this year saw Daniel Simiu Ebenyo of Kenya claim a slower but more convincing win, 42 seconds clear of his nearest rival. In spite of a strong southeasterly headwind, he sped away from his rivals early in the race and went on to win, by far the slowest winning time in the history of the race. Another Kenyan, Isaac Kipkemboi was second in 34:43, with SA’ s

2019 … Women’ s Record Smashed

2022 … Over to the 10K

2023 … Another Kenyan Triumph

Windy conditions slowed the 2023 race until the field hit the streets of the city centre, but then Victor Kipruto( Kenya) surged as the runners turned into lower Adderley Street, taking South Africans Precious Mashele and Thabang Mosiako with him. The trio were still together as they began the last kilometre, but Kipruto then made a winning surge to cross the line in 28:28. Mashele finished second in 28:36, with Mosiako two seconds further back.

A slight headwind in the opening 5km saw the 2019 race once again turn into a tactical race, but the next 5km were much faster as Abdallah Mande of Uganda tested the field with repeated surges. However, two-time defending champion Morris Gachaga of Kenya matched him each time, with local favourite Stephen Mokoka just behind them, and it was the Kenyan who won the home straight sprint to claim a hat-trick of wins in 33:38. Mande was second in 33:39, with Mokoka third in 33:50.

Stephen Mokoka taking third in 34:46.

The women’ s race was much more competitive, and after a tough battle that lasted for 11km, Jesca Chelangat( Kenya) pulled away from Lesotho’ s Neheng Khatala to win by 14 seconds in 40:02, also the slowest winning time yet in the race. Kenyan Diana Shesang was third( 40:26), with Glenrose Xaba the first South African in fourth place( 41:00).

With the race becoming a standard 10km for the first time, a stellar field of athletes set out to take advantage of the fast course. Defending champion Daniel Simiu Ebenyo of Kenya proved strongest on the day, winning by 30 seconds in 27:34, which remains the fastest time ever run in Cape Town. As in 2021, Isaac Kipkemboi( Kenya) was second, in 28:04, with Lesotho’ s Namakoe Nkhasi third in 28:24, while fifth-placed Anthony Timoteus was the first South African in 28:29.

Veronica Loleo of Kenya took the women’ s title in 31:38, having stuck like glue to the official pacesetter, Gladwin Mzazi, who led her through virtually even splits of 15:52 and 15:44. Behind her, Uganda’ s Dorcus Ajok took second place in 32:09, having passed Lesotho’ s Neheng Khatala( 32:13) in the final kilometre, and Glenrose Xaba was first South African in sixth place( 33:35).

2024: Double Consecutive Winners

Having both won the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series event in Gqeberha just five weeks earlier, Kenyans Vincent Langat and Diana Chepkorir made it two wins in two races as they also took line honours in Cape Town. Here, Langat produced his first sub-28-minute time on South African soil when he crossed the finish line in 27:52, with South Africa’ s Elroy Gelant finishing three seconds later to post his first sub-28, and Francis Abongo Koumwa took third in 28:16.

HISTORY

In the women’ s race, Kenya’ s Brillian Kipkoech timed her race to perfection as she fed off the hard front-running of Stella Chesang of Uganda. Kipkoech attacked in the final 500m to take the win in 38:05, smashing the course record of 38:22 set by Vivian Cheruiyot in 2015, leaving Chesang to take second in 38:09, with Ethiopians Sofiya Chege( 38:10) and Degitu Azamirew( 38:11) hot on her heels. First South African home was Irvette van Zyl, sixth in 39:22.

In the women’ s race, Ethiopia’ s World Record-holder over 1500m, Genzebe Dibaba, was widely considered the pre-race favourite, but she was eventually dropped by defending champion Jesca Chelangat( Kenya) and Stella Chesang( Uganda). Chesang, who was second in Cape Town in both 2018 and 2019, crossed the line in a huge personal best 30:40, easily beating the SA All-Comers Record of 30:55. Chelangat finished eight seconds adrift, Dibaba had to settle for third( 31:02) and Tayla Kavanagh was the first South African in ninth place( 33:02).

In the women’ s race, Chepkorir enjoyed a significantly easier race, coming home in 31:47, well ahead of runner-up Neheng Khathala( Lesotho), who crossed the line in 32:16. Getenesh Sase Agafew of Ethiopia claimed third in 32:48, with Fourthplaced Cacisile Sosibo the first South African in fourth place, with a time of 34:00.

Who will take line honours in 2025 and join the illustrious line-up of world-class running talent that have already made their mark in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K? We will find out on Sunday 11 May!

Winners in Cape Town Note: The original 12km race distance was run from 2015 to 2021. Since 2022, it has been 10km.

* 12km Race Record ** 10km Race Record

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