2023 SERIES in 28:36 , with Mosiako two seconds behind . “ My plan was to win the race . I came here to win ,” said Kipruto after the race . “ We were a big bunch in the beginning because of the wind , and it is easier to run in a bunch when the wind blows , but once we had some shelter , I knew it was time to go .”
Veronica Loleo came into the women ’ s race with a 30:53 PB and was considered one of the pre-race favourites . The Kenyan duly won 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 . “ I stuck to the pacesetter , as he was doing exactly what we asked him to do ,” said Loleo . “ I ’ m really happy with my run in the wind .” Behind her , Lesotho 10km Recordholder , Neheng Khatala ( who ran that national mark on this very course in 2022 ) moved into second and was only caught by Uganda ’ s Dorcus Ajok in the final kilometre .
Victor Kipruto
Veronica Loleo
World Record attempt . Yehualaw set the open ( mixed race ) World Record of 29:14 in 2022 , whereas the women-only World Record is 30:01 , set by Agnes Tiprop of Kenya in 2021 . Mixed races tend to produce slightly faster women ’ s times due to the women being able to race alongside the top men .
Unfortunately , a strong headwind in the first half of the race slowed the pace somewhat , but Yehualaw still broke clear at 3km , going through halfway in 15:40 , 18 seconds ahead of Ugandans Stella Chesang and Docus Ajok . The Ethiopian then clocked 15:06 for the second half and took the win in 30:46 , just six seconds outside the fastest time ever run in SA ( by Chesang at the Cape Town race in 2022 ), and five seconds slower than Kenya ’ s Jesca Chelangat ’ s 30:41 in the 2022 Durban event . Although slightly disappointed about the failed record attempt , Yehualaw said , “ I really like the course , I can see it is fast , and if it wasn ’ t for the wind , I think I would have broken the record , so I really want to come back here and try again .”
In the men ’ s race , Kabelo Seboko won a pulsating final sprint to take the win in 27:56 , ahead of former SA 10km Record-holder Stephen Mokoka and Thabang Mosiako , who both clocked 27:59 , but Mokoka was adjudged to be a fraction ahead . Taking the win not only capped Seboko ’ s comeback from an injury-affected 2022 , but knocked 35 seconds off his previous best , rocketed him up to sixth on the SA all-time list , and earned him a lucrative payday of R90,000 ( R30,000 for the win and a further R60,000 incentive for breaking 28 minutes , thanks to the incentives on offer to SA athletes , courtesy of title sponsor Absa .) “ This win is massive . I knew I was in shape , but this is incredible !” said Seboko . “ Last year was a rough one for me , as I was constantly battling with injury , but things have started to fall into place again .”
Top 10 Results from Cape Town
TOP 10 MEN
1 Victor Kipruto Kenya 28:28 2 Precious Mashele South Africa 28:36 3 Thabang Mosiako South Africa 28:38
4 Elroy Gelant South Africa 28:51 5 Ezekiel Mutai Uganda 28:52 6 Denis Kipngetich Kenya 28:54 7 Anthony Timoteus South Africa 28:55 8 Reghen Magwai South Africa 28:57 9 Kabelo Seboko South Africa 28:59 10 William Kaptein South Africa 29:05
TOP 10 WOMEN
1 Veronica Loleo Kenya 31:38 2 Dorcus Ajok Uganda 32:09 3 Neheng Khatala Lesotho 32:13 4 Prisca Chesang Uganda 32:45 5 Genet Abdurkadir Habela Ethiopia 33:08 6 Glenrose Xaba South Africa 33:35 7 Cacisile Sosibo South Africa 33:46 8 Kesa Molotsane South Africa 34:14 9 Rutendo Nyahora Zimbabwe 35:13 10 Lebogang Phalula South Africa 35:33
Durban Dazzles Again
Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K Sunday 9 July 2023
In the lead-up to the sixth edition of the Durban race , all the talk was about the women-only World Record , as women ’ s World Record-holder , Yalemzerf Yehualaw of Ethiopia , would be headlining a strong women ’ s field , which would be starting 12 minutes before the rest of the field in order to have the road to themselves for a
Kabelo Seboko
Top 10 Results from Durban
TOP 10 MEN
1 Kabelo Seboko South Africa 27:56 2 Stephen Mokoka South Africa 27:59 3 Thabang Mosiako South Africa 27:59 4 Asbel Kiprop Rutto Kenya 28:17 5 Nicholas Seoposengwe South Africa 28:22 6 Pecious Mashele South Africa 28:24 7 Mathews Leeto South Africa 28:25 8 Marc Scott Great Britain 28:26 9 Namakoe Nkhasi Lesotho 28:31 10 Collen Mulaudzi South Africa 28:35
TOP 10 WOMEN
Yalemzerf Yehualaw
1 Yalemzerf Yehualaw Ethiopia 30:46 2 Docus Ajok Uganda 31:54 3 Stella Chesang Uganda 31:56 4 Diniya Kedir Abaraya Ethiopia 32:03 5 Fridah Ndinda Kenya 32:19 6 Neheng Khatala Lesotho 32:24 7 Bekelech Teku Wariyo Ethiopia 32:54 8 Cacisile Sosibo South Africa 33:03 9 Glenrose Xaba South Africa 33:15 10 Cian Oldknow South Africa 33:32
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