Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 160 August 2023 | Page 14

ROAD RUNNING

Since the first of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY races in 2015 ( initially as FNBsponsored events ), these fast city runs have attracted world class talent to South African shores and incentivised local athletes to push for faster times , both through stronger competition and through cash incentives . The result is that the vast majority of current top 20 men ’ s and women ’ s all-comers times run on South African soil have been posted in RUN YOUR CITY races , and it is fair to say that this series has literally transformed the landscape of 10km running in SA .

Maxime Chaumeton ’ s 27:58 in the 2022 Durban race was the first sub-28 by a South African on home soil

Amongst the men , all top 20 times have come in the series , including Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei ’ s scintillating 27:16 in Durban in 2018 , which is still the fastest time run in SA . This year so far , another seven times have been added to the Top 20 , including Precious Mashele setting the new SA Record of 27:35 in Gqeberha on 2 April , where he finished behind Kenyan Daniel Simiu Ebenyo , whose 27:21 gave him the second-fastest time ever run in SA .

Furthermore , up until a year ago , no South African had even run a sub-28:00 time on home soil , but in last year ’ s Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K , Maxime Chaumeton became the first to do it , and since then , another four athletes have joined this exclusive club , including former SA Record-holder Stephen Mokoka .

SA ALL-COMERS TOP 20 MEN

All 20 of these times were run in Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series events . ( SA athletes marked in bold )

1 27:16 Joshua Cheptegei Uganda Durban 14 Oct 18

Kenya Gqeberha 2 Apr 23

Uganda Durban 8 Oct 17

4 27:32 Julien Wanders Switzerland Durban 14 Oct 18

Kenya Cape Town 15 May 22

6 27:35 Precious Mashele South Africa Gqeberha 2 Apr 23 7 27:37 Isaac Kipkemboi Kenya Durban 10 Jul 22 8 27:46 Moses Koech Kenya Durban 14 Oct 18 9 27:47 Stephen Kissa Uganda Durban 14 Oct 18 10 27:52 Namakoe Nkhasi Lesotho Durban 10 Jul 22 10 27:52 Thabang Mosiako South Africa Gqeberha 2 Apr 23 12 27:55 Asbel Kiprop Rutto Kenya Durban 10 Jul 22 13 27:56 Kabelo Seboko South Africa Durban 9 July 23

South Africa Durban 10 Jul 22

15 27:59 Stephen Mokoka South Africa Durban 9 July 23

South Africa Durban 9 July 23

17 28:01 Mande Bushendich Uganda Durban 14 Oct 18 17 28:01 Denis Kipngetich Kenya Gqeberha 2 Apr 23 19 28:03 Isaac Kibet Uganda Durban 10-Jul-22 19 28:03 Mbuleli Mathanga South Africa Durban 10-Jul-22

Precious Masehele claimed the SA Record with his 27:35 in Gqeberha in 2023

Joshua Cheptegei set the SA Men ’ s All-Comers Record of 20:17 in Durban in 2018

SA ALL-COMERS TOP 21 WOMEN

14 of these times were run in Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series events , excluding those in red . ( SA athletes marked in bold )

1 30:40A Stella Chesang Uganda Cape Town 15 May 22 2 30:41 Jesca Chelangat Kenya Durban 10 Jul 22

Ethiopia Durban 9 July 23

4 30:48A Jesca Chelangat ( 2 ) Kenya Cape Town 15 May 22 5 30:55 Sheila Chepkirui Kenya Durban 13 Oct 19 6 30:57 Evaline Chirchir Kenya Durban 13 Oct 19 7 30:59 Helalia Johannes Namibia Durban 23 Jun 19 8 31:01 Beatrice Mutai Kenya Durban 13 Oct 19

Ethiopia Cape Town 15 May 22

10 31:14 Stella Chesang ( 2 ) Uganda Durban 14 Oct 18 11 31:26 Tadu Teshome Nare Ethiopia Durban 25 Jun 23

Ethiopia Cape Town 4 Sep 21

13 31:33 Elana Meyer South Africa Durban 4 May 91

Uganda Durban 14 Oct 18

Ethiopia Gqeberha 27 May 23

15 31:35A Sarah Chelangat Uganda Cape Town 15 May 22

Ethiopia Gqeberha 2 Apr 23

18 31:37 Selam Fente Gebre Ethiopia Durban 25 Jun 23 19 31:38 Colleen de Reuck South Africa Durban 25 Jun 00

Stella Chesang ran the fastest ever women ’ s 10km on SA soil in 2022 , clocking 30:40 in Cape Town in 2022

The women ’ s top 20 times are also dominated by RUN YOUR CITY performances , with 14 of the top 20 times coming in the series , including the six best times , and nine of the top 10 . The fastest time run in South Africa is Stella Chesang ’ s 30:40 in Cape Town in 2022 , but according to World Athletics standards this is a point-topoint ‘ aided course ,’ and not eligible for records , so Jesca Chelangat ’ s 30:41 in Durban in 2022 ranks as the fastest official SA All-Comers Record .

While none of South Africa ’ s current top women feature in this top 20 , there has undoubtedly been a marked improvement in local racing over the 10km distance , thanks in part to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series ( as well as some other events ) inviting top international athletes to race in SA . It is perhaps only a matter of time before this increased focus on local shorter distance road races pays dividend for SA ’ s female athletes .

Uganda Durban 8 Oct 17

19 31:38A Veronica Loleo Kenya Cape Town 14 May 23

A = Aided Course , therefore not eligible for official record purposes .

Images : Tobias Ginsberg , Mark Sampson , Anthony Grote

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