Having already clocked two sub-28-minute 10km performances, Kabelo Mulaudzi has proven his mastery of the 27-minute mark. However, both of these impressive runs came at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K. Now, Mulaudzi is determined to break the sub-28 barrier for the first time in ‘The Friendly City’ as he sets his sights on a maiden podium finish at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday, 13 April 2025.
“I’m always grateful whenever I receive an invitation to run the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES,” says Mulaudzi. “The incentives they offer motivate me to compete in every one of their races, with my goal always being a podium finish. So my plan for Gqeberha is to run a personal best (PB) and go sub-28 minutes. If I can do that, I’ll be happy.”
The Boxer Athletics Club (AC) top runner is rightly confident as he heads to the opening Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES race of 2025 in excellent form. The 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K champion who earned three Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES podium positions in 2024, ran 14:06.95 to claim the 5000m gold medal ahead of Boxer AC teammate Chris Mhlanga (14:14.05) at the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Championships on Friday 14 March. Less than 48 hours later Mulaudzi got the better of Mhlanga again to win the Motsepe Foundation’s Race to Gender Equality 10km in 30:33 on a hilly course in Johannesburg.
Finding himself injury free after a good training block, Mulaudzi believes that he is in shape to challenge his 27:53 lifetime best in what will be his Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K debut.
“My training is going well this year since I have been joined by Andries Sesedi,” points out Mulaudzi. “Because I am no longer training alone where I have to push by myself, it is easier. My target was to run sub 14:10 at the CGA Champs, which would be a good indicator of my fitness. I usually run sub-28 in Durban, but this year my aim is to run my first 27 minutes 10km in Gqeberha - my first big race of the year.”
Also eyeing a good performance in her maiden Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K outing is Karabo Mailula. The 23-year-old University of Pretoria student enjoyed a productive 2024 which included a top ten finish at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in a career best 33:08. Training alongside national 10km record holder Glenrose Xaba, Mailula has grown in confidence and intends to attack the course come 13 April.
“With the kind of shape that I was in last year I could feel that sub-33 was just so close,” admits Mailula. “Sub-33 is still the goal this year. It will be my first time running the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K and I heard the course is fast, flat and that good times can be achieved. My expectations are to finish the race in a good time to collect a good cheque.”
"It's fantastic to see top-tier elites and rising stars pushing their limits at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES. Kabelo Mulaudzi has already proven his speed with two sub-28-minute finishes, and it will be exciting to see him chase a third, this time in Gqeberha. At the same time, we are excited to see up-and-coming talent Karabo Mailula deliver a fast performance in ‘The Friendly City.’ We’re grateful to have both athletes adding to the world-class field and wish them the best of luck on race day," says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES.
Charity Support: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES proudly supports the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) as the official charity of the entire series of events. A non-profit leader in the fight against cancer since 1931, CANSA enables research, educates the public and advocates for and supports all people affected by cancer, while leading SA towards a cancer-free society. When entering an Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES event online, runners can show their support by donating towards CANSA.
Prize Purse: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES boasts an impressive, combined prize purse of R1 610 000.00 in 2025. Each of the five events will feature a total prize allocation of R322 000. Of this, R252 000.00 will be dedicated to the Open Category, with R126 000.00 awarded to the Top 10 Open Men and R126 000.00 to the Top 10 Open Women. The top male and female finishers in each city will receive R30 000.00 each, with R25 000.00 going to second-place finishers and R20 000.00 to third-place finishers.
Additionally, R70 000.00 will be allocated to Age Categories. The Age Category prize pool will reward the top three finishers in the Junior, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and 70+ age groups."
South African Athlete Incentives: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES also has an unprecedented “SA Athlete Prize Incentive Schedule” for 2025. Applying to all five races, the incentive schedule offers bonuses for exceptional performances. In the men’s category, bonuses will start for times faster than 28 minutes, with a substantial R200 000.00 bonus for breaking the 27-minute barrier. For women, bonuses begin for times faster than 32:08 minutes, with an impressive R200 000.00 incentive for breaking the 30:23 mark.
To further raise the stakes, a bonus of R50 000.00 will be awarded to the South African athlete who breaks the SA 10km record (at the time of the race). The current men's record stands at 27:35, set by Precious Mashele at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K in 2023, while Glenrose Xaba holds the women's record of 31:12, achieved at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in 2024. It’s important to note that the R50 000.00 will be awarded to the fastest time.
Facebook: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Instagram: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Hashtag: #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
WhatsApp Line: 072 042 7613
Websites: www.runyourcityseries.com
About Absa
Absa Group is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups.
Absa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and insurance. Absa operates in fourteen countries. The Group owns majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Absa Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia and has insurance operations in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia. Absa also has representative offices in Namibia and Nigeria, and securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States. For further information about Absa Group Limited, please visit www.absa.africa
About the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES
A proudly South African mass participation road running series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES has been revolutionizing the sport since 2015. A road running celebration like no other, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES comprises five unique events namely the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K (launched in 2023), Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K (launched in 2015), the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K (launched in 2017), Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K (launched in 2023) and the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K (launched in 2016). A diverse road running series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES integrates businesses, families, investment in community, world class achievement and fun for all participants. For further information please visit https://runyourcityseries.com/
Comentarios