Wildschutt and Xaba target SA Records at Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Multiple SA record holder Adriaan Wildschutt is aiming to add the national 10km road record to his impressive list of achievements when he tackles the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday 13 April.
Running in what will be only his second road race in eight years, the US-based top runner who hails from Ceres is confident of eclipsing the current mark of 27:35 set by Precious Mashele at the same event two years ago.
"It's going to be my first time running in Gqeberha. The preparations have gone quite well and I'm motivated to run fast on Sunday. I know the target is to run the SA record which requires an athlete to run 2 minutes 45 seconds per kilometer but on the day I plan to run 2 minutes 42 seconds per kilometer. I'm doing so because I'm aiming to run 27 minutes flat on the day, " said Wildschutt.
Wildschutt, who took tenth place over 10 000m at the 2024 Olympic Games in France in the fastest time ever run by a South African over 25 laps of the track (26:50.64), has been in outstanding form over the last two years managing to set national records over various distances ranging from 3 000m, 5 000m and 10 000m.
The 26-year-old is expected to go toe-to-toe with Kabelo Mulaudzi who is a Sub-28 athlete and his brother, Nadeel Wildschutt - who is the holder of a 28:07 lifetime best and is aiming for a maiden 27 minutes 10km clocking. Wildschutt says it feels good to face his brother.
"I don't remember when we last faced each other in a race,” he said when asked about the prospect of racing his older brother. “I have spoken to him regarding the race. I know he recently won the Athletics South Africa (ASA) 10 000m title where the target was not to run fast but rather win the title. He was relaxed and saving himself for this race. He wants to run under 28 minutes on Sunday and I wish him all the best in his goals,” he said.
In the women’s race, South African record holder Glenrose Xaba also made a brave call stating that she is confident of improving on her own record if the weather conditions allow. Last year, Xaba delivered a scintillating 31:12 to break Elana Meyer’s long-standing record by just one second at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K. The 30-year-old Boxer Athletics Club elite athlete has started the year on a high note winning the opening leg of the SPAR Grand Prix in Cape Town and then her eighth consecutive SA 10 000m gold medal.
"I believe I can win the race if I can pace myself very well. I want to run fast on Sunday. If I can run faster than my personal best time which is also the SA record that would make me happy. My aim is to dip under 31 minutes," said Xaba who is coached by Caster and Violet Semenya.
"It’s exciting to have top South African athletes like Adriaan Wildschutt and Glenrose Xaba aiming for national records at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K,” says Michael Meyer Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “We’re proud to support local talent through our SA Elite Athlete Programme. By giving South Africa’s top athletes, the chance to compete at a high level on home soil – and by offering enticing incentives – we’re proud to play a role in growing the sport locally. It’s going to be an incredible race to watch on Sunday."
Jabulile Nsibanyoni, Absa's Head of Sponsorships, says, “We can’t wait to see you at the starting line for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K. Whether you're running, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, your participation fuels a greater cause. Through our R1 campaign, we’re turning every kilometre logged by a Team Absa member on Strava into real impact, donating R1 for each kilometer to uplift communities in need. Join us, track your progress on Strava, and be part of a movement that drives meaningful change.”
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.
Live Broadcast: Watch the race on Super Sport 209 from 06:30 - 09:00 on Sunday 13 April 2025!
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 is important to note that the R50 000.00 will be awarded to the fastest time.
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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/
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