Elite Race
MEET THE
TOP CONTENDERS
The inaugural running of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Gqeberha 10K has attracted an impressive field of top elites , and the fast , flat sea-level course should see these world-class athletes posting really fast times as they chase line honours in the new race .
Daniel Simiu Ebenyo
The streets of Gqeberha will be painted red on Sunday 2 April when thousands of runners and walkers tackle the first edition of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Gqeberha 10K . While many of the backmarkers will be out to enjoy the legendary party atmosphere of the RUN YOUR CITY Series events , we can expect some really fast racing at the front end of the race as the elites tackle what promises to be a really fast course .
The international contingent in the men ’ s elite field is headlined by 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist over 10,000m , Daniel Simiu Ebenyo of Kenya , as well as Uganda ’ s Isaac Kibet , who have both raced in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series before . From the local perspective , the challenge will be taken to the foreign visitors by the likes of local hero Melikhaya Frans , as well as Gauteng-based stars Precious Mashele and Stephen Mokoka . The women ’ s race also promises to produce fireworks , with Kenya ’ s Diana Chesang and Lesotho ’ s Neheng Khatala returning to SA shores for another crack at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series , and they will be joined by South Africa ’ s Glenrose Xaba , amongst others .
Local Men Ready to Race
Flying the flag for the host city will be local hero , Frans , a man who is almost unbeatable at home . He has improved in leaps and bounds in recent years , with 2022 being a breakthrough year for the 32-year-old . He took a whopping two minutes off his marathon best when representing South Africa at the World Marathon Championships ( 2:09.24 ), having sliced a massive 37 seconds off his 10km time ( 28:16 ) in 2021 .
For Frans , flying the flag in his hometown is a big deal , and he says he fully appreciates the impact that the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K will have on his hometown . “ I cannot wait to run the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K . It ’ s here at home , now , and it ’ s going to be exciting . I ’ ve seen the names coming in , and I see that Daniel Ebenyo is coming to run , so my expectation is to run 28 minutes on the day . I will be really happy with that !”
Top International Men
In 2021 , Ebenyo won the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 12K , then returned in 2022 to win the revamped Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K . In typical fashion , he went to the front of both races early , and scorched home to victory , running 34:01 and 27:34 respectively . The Kenyan now has his sights set on the first of the five 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series races . “ I am excited to take part in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K , especially with Isaac Kibet in the race , because I know we will push each other to a good time ,” he says . “ I will approach the race as I always do , with the hope to run a fast time . If it is a world lead , I would be very happy with that .”
Few will bet against him setting a fast time and challenging the world ’ s leading time for the year thus far , which currently stands at 26:55 , run on 15 January in Valencia by Ebenyo ’ s countryman , Weldon Langat .
Isaac Kibet
Should Ebenyo come close to or even better that time , he will have set an SA All-comers Record . The present All Comers Record stands at 27:16 , run by Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in 2018 .
Kibet placed fifth in the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K , crossing the line in 28:03 . He now has his eyes firmly set on both a fast time and a podium finish in Gqeberha . “ I want to run 27:40 or better , and I intend to be on the podium ,” he says simply . Kibet has already run a 27-minute time for 10km , having clocked 27:41 as he finished fifth in the De Lille 10km in France in 2021 , and he says , “ I am in better shape than I was in 2022 in Durban , so I am looking forward to racing in Gqeberha . The race will be fast . I love running in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series . The courses are always good , and the organisation is superb .”
Melikhaya Frans
10 Run Your City Series