Kenya’s Vincent Langat and Diana Chepkorir made it two wins in as many Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series starts when they crossed the finish line first in the men’s and women’s races respectively at the iconic Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K on Sunday 12 May 2024.
Just five weeks after winning the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K, Langat produced his first sub-28-minute clocking on South African soil when he crossed the finish line in 27:52 in The Mother City.
“I’m happy. I was excited when I made my move with 1km to go. This was my best win. Elroy is a strong guy. I like him and I appreciate the competition. I will now go and prepare for the Olympics in the 10 000m,” says Langat.
Finishing just three seconds behind winner Langat was South Africa’s Elroy Gelant. The two-time Olympian stopped the clock in 27:55, while Francis Abongo, ran a personal best 28:16 to claim third place in his first official 10km road race outside his native Kenya.
With three personal bests over 10km, 21km and 42km over the last nine months, 37-year-old Gelant says he feels more confident than ever which is why he had wanted to attack Precious Mashele’s 27:35 national record even though the wind had other ideas.
“The wind was a factor. I just told myself like a skipper who’s on a boat when there’s wind you just need to change your sails, so I just changed by angle of running. But I knew that I would run well. I set my watch to SA Record. I didn’t get there but I’m still happy with the race,” explained the athlete who is coached by Jean Verster and walks away with R85 000 in prize money - R25 000 for second place and R60 000 for breaking 28 minutes.
Like her countryman Langat, Diana Chepkorir’s 31:47 win in Cape Town made it two Absa RUN YOUT CITY Series wins in as many starts after her victory at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K early in April. Lesotho’s Neheng Khathala was the runner-up in 32:16, while Getenesh Sase Agafew of Ethiopia claimed third in 32:48.
"Congratulations to Vincent Langat, Diana Chepkorir and Elroy Gelant for their outstanding performances today in the 'Mother City'. Their achievements have truly raised the bar for racing in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “We extend our gratitude to all participants, from elites to social runners, whose energy and enthusiasm made this year's event a resounding success. We also want to thank our sponsors for their unwavering support, which has been instrumental in making this event possible. The fact that we reached our capacity of 12,000 entrants is a clear testament to the growing popularity of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series.
As we wrap up in Cape Town, our excitement now turns to the next event in the Series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in July. Durban runners, be sure to secure your entries early to avoid missing out on what promises to be another fantastic event."
"We applaud the incredible efforts of all the participants in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K and their enthusiastic support of Team Absa Walk Run on Strava. A resounding congratulations goes out to the deserving winners who have showcased exceptional dedication and determination.
Witnessing the power of unity as countless individuals, driven by diverse motivations, pushed themselves to conquer personal milestones has been truly awe-inspiring," expressed Jabulile Nsibanyoni, Head of Sponsorships, Brand, and Marketing. "Your remarkable stories have touched our hearts and ignited a flame of inspiration within us all.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed colleagues, volunteers, partner sponsors, and organisers whose unwavering support made this extraordinary event possible."
WIN A CAR: All entrants of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K stood a chance to win a brand-new Chery Tiggo 4 Pro LiT Vehicle valued from R279 000. Samukelo Lamula was the lucky runner that drove home this fantastic prize on the day.
PRIZE PURSE: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series will boast an impressive, combined Prize Purse of R 1,560,000.00 in 2024. Each of the five events will feature a total prize purse of R312,000. Within this allocation, R252,000 will be earmarked for the Open Category, with R126,000 dedicated to the Top 10 Open Men and R126,000 to the Top 10 Open Women. Additionally, R60,000 will be designated for Age Categories. The top male and female finishers in each city will be awarded R30,000 each, with R25,000 going to the second-place finishers and R20,000 to the third-place finishers. The Age Category Prize Purse will be distributed among the top three finishers in each of the Junior, 40 – 49, 50 – 59, 60 – 69, and 70+ Age Categories. To view the complete Prize Purse Breakdown visit: www.runyourcityseries.com
EXCITING NEWS: In 2024, each of the five Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series events will showcase unique, city-specific medals, adding a personalized touch to the participant experience reflective of the host city's essence and character.
CHARITY SUPPORT: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has welcomed the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) as the official charity of the entire series of events in 2024. 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.
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/