Elite Race
Nicholas Seopesengwe time when she ran 31:55 in June . To say that Xaba is in the shape of her life is an understatement .
Khatala , who clocked 32:45 in the Gqeberha race and then missed her PB of 32:06 by a mere seven seconds when she placed third in Cape Town , agrees that it will be a tough race in Tshwane . “ We know the course will be tougher than those of Gqeberha , Cape Town and Durban , so the times will not be as fast , but it means we will have to race differently , so I am expecting a tough race .”
CITY DURBAN 10K early in July . He crossed the line in 27:56 , taking a whopping 35 seconds off his previous best 10k time of 28:31 .
In the process of winning a three-man sprint for the line , he pulled Thabang Mosiako to his second sub-28 time in four months , and also helped former SA 10km Record-holder , Stephen Mokoka , record his first sub-28 on South African soil . “ It ’ s an amazing feeling to break 28 minutes . Sometimes it still shocks me to think that I achieved that ,” says Seboko . “ The result has built my confidence and self-belief , and I want to keep performing to maintain my confidence .”
The talented young athlete has big plans for the remaining races in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series . “ I am excited to race the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K . It ’ s a big event for me , and I have prepared well for it ,” confirms Seboko . “ I will approach the race with confidence , but with control , and I aim to be prepared for anything and to respond to any race situation in the best way that I can .”
Neheng Khatala
Meanwhile , neither Mashele nor Seboko can expect to have everything their own way , as the men ’ s field will also include Nicholas Seoposengwe , who claimed victory at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K in 2022 , as well as stalwarts Elroy Gelant and Gladwin Mzazi .
Women ’ s Rivalries to Resume
In the women ’ s race , the athlete who arguably will line up in Tshwane as the pre-race favourite is Uganda ’ s Docus Ajok . She has been in fine form in 2023 , finishing on the podium at all three of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series races this year , with a third-place in Gqeberha and second in both Cape Town and Durban . She also set a new PB of 31:54 in Durban , and her experience of racing in South Africa will stand her in good stead in the new Tshwane race , but she may be challenged by newcomer Debash Desta . The Ethiopian boasts a 10km best of 32:14 , and should be a dangerous protagonist come race day .
Amongst the locally-based women , many will be watching the ongoing rivalry between SA ’ s current top 10km runner , Glenrose Xaba and Lesotho ’ s three-time National Record Holder , Neheng Khatala . Xaba finished fourth in Gqeberha , just ahead of Khatala , but in Cape Town , Khatala finished on the podium with a third place , while Xaba crossed the line sixth . In Durban , Khatala finished sixth and Xaba ninth , so after three races in the 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series , the score is 2-1 to Khatala .
Still More Familiar Faces
Another woman to look out for will be the in-form Cacisile Sosibo , who has found great form in the second half of the year , culminating in her win at the Totalsports Women ’ s Race in Durban on 9 August . And then there is Gerda Steyn , who will use the race to work on her short distance speed as she continues her focus on marathons and ultra-marathons . “ I ’ m excited to be in Tshwane for the first ever Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSWHANE 10K ,” says Steyn . “ It is a great honour for me to be invited . I know the route will be tough and that suits me , so I will be hoping to be competitive on 27 August .”
In another record-breaking year , Steyn has shattered her own Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon record , also becoming the only athlete ever to win the 56km Cape ultra four times in a row , and then she obliterated the 24-year-old Comrades Marathon record of Frith van der Merwe . Steyn clocked 5:44:54 , taking nearly ten minutes off Van der Merwe ’ s mark of 5:54.43 , run in 1989 , but now the SA Marathon Record-holder has her sights set on the shorter distance of 10km .
“ In true Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series form the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K will boast fantastic racing in both the men ’ s and women ’ s elite fields ,” says Michael Meyer , Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series . “ We ’ re especially excited that Gerda will line up for her first RUN YOUR CITY Series race of the year , and we look forward to welcoming her and all the other elite , category and social runners ( and walkers ) to the Series ’ debut in Tshwane .”
However , while the head-to-head score line favours Khatala , it is Xaba who boasts the faster time of the pair , 31:55 to 32:06 , and that points to the possibility of a showdown in Tshwane between the rivals , who are also good friends . “ It is always good racing against Neheng , because you know you will need to work hard when she is in the race . She is a tough fighter ,” says Xaba . “ But firstly , I must focus on my race , on how I feel , and then I will think about the opposition . But it will be a tough race .”
Glenrose Xaba
The South African has broken her 10km PB three times already this year , in the process breaking through the magical 32-minute barrier for the first time , starting that run of bests with a 32:25 at the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K in April , taking 20 seconds off her previous best . Six weeks later she took another 13 seconds off that time , then shattered that
Gerda Steyn
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