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Glenrose Xaba unleashes another 10km masterclass in rainy Gqeberha

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Glenrose Xaba unleashes another 10km masterclass in rainy Gqeberha
By Adnaan Mohamed

GQEBERHA: Glenrose Xaba may have arrived in Gqeberha with tired legs after her World Half Marathon Championship outing in Copenhagen, but the South African road-running sensation left the rain-soaked streets with another piece of history.

The Boxer Athletics Club star scorched her way to a breathtaking 31:16 victory in Saturday morning’s SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge, producing the third-fastest 10km time ever recorded by a South African woman.

The clock was cruelly close to another national record.

Xaba finished only four seconds outside her South African record of 31:12, set at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on 7 July 2024.

GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA – SEPTEMBER 26: Glenrose Xaba Boxer AC – AGN during the 2026 SPAR Women’s Grand Prix 10km Challenge and 5km Fun Run at Pollock Beach Grass Area Summerstrand on September 26, 2026 in Gqeberha, South Africa. (Photo by Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images)

That performance in Durban saw Xaba shatter the long-standing national record of 31:13 held by iconic South African distance runner Elana Meyer for 23 years.

In Gqeberha, the weather offered little assistance. Overcast skies, humidity and persistent rain turned the course into a slippery test of speed and strength, but Xaba treated the conditions as little more than another hurdle to clear.

Her 31:16 was a powerful statement so soon after representing South Africa at the World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen.

The stopwatch dangled history in front of her again in Gqeberha.

“I’m just happy and a little bit disappointed because I saw that I was not sure that I was in the SA record time when I was running,” Xaba said. “But when it was 50 metres to 100 metres, I saw that I was inside the record time, but when I crossed the finish line is where I got disappointed because I just missed it.”

There was little sympathy from the weather gods.

Yet Xaba described the course as “a bit challenging but very fast”, adding that she believed it could produce multiple records in future.

“I think it’s the route that can produce multiple records in future and if we can host the world champs, I don’t know when, road running, I think it will be the best route for us.”

Fresh from representing South Africa at the World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen, Xaba had every reason to feel the weight in her legs. Instead, she attacked from the gun.

“I just did from gunpoint because I was chasing a bonus time so that I can have the good results and good points,” she said. “I only did two races. This one is a dead one, so I’m chasing the points. I’m glad that everything went according to the way I did in the race.”

Behind her, teammate Karabo More produced one of the day’s biggest breakthroughs, finishing second in 32:21, a 12-second personal best.

More deliberately stepped beyond her comfort zone.

“I think my plan was to come here and run a PB. I’ve always been scared to go in front and go with the girls. So today it was all about risking it and seeing how far I can go,” she said.

“And it worked to my advantage because I was able to fight from start to finish. So for today I’m sure and proud that I started something I was able to finish.”

More said the weather was manageable and revealed how she approached the closing kilometres.

“My coach once told me, with the 10 kilometres, the most important kilometres of the 10 kilometres are the last three. So you need to run smart and try and push to the end.”

At seven kilometres, those words became her fuel.

“I knew then that you just have to move, regardless of how you’re feeling, just try and finish, you’re almost there.”

More said her ambition was to learn from racing closer to athletes of Xaba’s calibre.

GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA – SEPTEMBER 26: Karabo More Boxer AC – AGN during the 2026 SPAR Women’s Grand Prix 10km Challenge and 5km Fun Run at Pollock Beach Grass Area Summerstrand on September 26, 2026 in Gqeberha, South Africa. (Photo by Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images)

“At the end of the day you have to risk it and see where it’s going to take you,” she said. “Each and every kilometre was all about getting faster than the one I did.”

Ethiopian Selam Gebre of Nedbank completed the podium in 32:33, but the loudest statement belonged to Boxer AC.

For Xaba, however, the job remains unfinished.

She is chasing a fourth Grand Prix crown, but refused to assume history is already hers.

“I’m not sure yet that I’m going to win the Grand Prix,” she said. “But to make history, it will for me to be not my history alone. It will be the history of everyone that loved running.”

“It will be inspiration for the young ones and older ones that they look up to me.”

Her victory was not another routine entry in the record books. It was a reminder that South African women’s distance running has a formidable engine at its front, and Xaba continues to push the needle.

The stopwatch says four seconds separated her from her own national record.

The bigger picture says Xaba remains within striking distance of history.

And with the SPAR Grand Prix season gathering pace, the race against the clock has only begun.

The City of Gold now holds the final piece of the puzzle

Gqeberha could make or break Glenrose’s historic title chase

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, News, PreviewLeave a Comment on Gqeberha could make or break Glenrose’s historic title chase
By Adnaan Mohamed

Glenrose Xaba’s Spar Grand Prix dream is heading into dangerous territory.

The Boxer Athletics Club star has a shot at becoming the first woman to win four SPAR Grand Prix titles, but Saturday’s penultimate race in Gqeberha could send the championship race into overdrive.

Xaba currently shares the record of three Grand Prix crowns with fellow South Africans Rene Kalmer and Irvette van Zyl, and Ethiopia’s Tadu Nare.

A victory in this year’s series would put her alone at the top.

But the road to history is littered with potholes.

Cacisile Sosibo, Xaba’s Boxer teammate, leads the standings on 80 points, with Hollywood Athletics Club’s Tayla Kavanagh on 60 and Xaba third.

Kavanagh will miss Gqeberha after staying in Europe following the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, where she smashed Elana Meyer’s South African 5km record with a sensational 14:51.

That absence has opened the door for the chasing pack.

And they are coming.

Ethiopian Selam Gebre, currently fourth, will be among those hunting points, while Karabo Mailula, sixth, arrives after finishing fifth in Thursday’s Absa RUN YOUR CITY Joburg 10K in 34:44.

Irvette van Zyl, another three-time Grand Prix champion, clocked 34:51 in Joburg and sits 10th overall.

Neheng Khatala, Cian Gerber (Oldknow) and Karabo More are also expected to throw themselves into the points battle.

Xaba, meanwhile, is carrying serious form into Gqeberha.

She finished 13th in the Copenhagen half marathon in 1:07:49, the second-fastest 21km time of her career.

Sosibo was 70th in 1:14:00 and will be determined to protect her championship lead.

Then there is the course.

SPAR Grand Prix technical consultant Brad Glasspoole says the new route could produce a furious finish.

“The new Gqeberha route starts at Pollok Beach and avoids the city centre. This reduces traffic, turns and twists,” Glasspoole told Modern Athlete

“There is a 550m climb on 10th Avenue, followed by a 450m descent. The final 2.5km is flat and fast.”

That final stretch could become a sprinting lottery, with tired legs and championship points fighting for the same piece of road.

About 6,000 runners are expected, with wet and windy conditions forecast.

Glasspoole believes the new qualification rule could make Saturday even more important.

“This is a new rule we introduced this year to make the series more competitive. With Johannesburg as the final leg after Gqeberha, Saturday’s points could be decisive.”

Athletes must complete at least three races to qualify for the Grand Prix title.

The five-race series visits Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane, Gqeberha and Johannesburg, with R1,967,500 in total prize money and up to R212,000 available per leg for the South African competition.

Caster Semenya at starting line during the 2025 SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge and 5km Fun Run at Green Point Common Sports Ground on March 30, 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)

Xaba, Sosibo, Mailula and More are coached by former Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya and her wife Violet Semenya.

Saturday is therefore no ordinary 10km.

For Xaba, it is another step towards history.

For Sosibo, it is a chance to tighten her grip.

And for the chasing pack, it is open season.

Gqeberha is ready. The title race is on.

Gerda Steyn’s Free State homecoming gets a 10km twist

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By Adnaan Mohamed

Gerda Steyn will trade ultra-marathon endurance for 10km speed when she lines up at the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K in Bloemfontein on Sunday, 25 October.

For one of South Africa’s most accomplished road runners, the race carries a personal significance. Steyn grew up in the Free State and attended university there, yet has never raced competitively in the province.

She describes her Mangaung debut as a “homecoming” and a full-circle moment.

“The Free State is where I grew up and also where I went to university. Being part of this first Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K feels like a homecoming, a full-circle moment because I’ve never actually raced in the Free State or the Northern Cape,” Steyn said.

“I’m sure I will recognise every corner and every turn. Racing a 10km also exposes me to a different side of the running community because I get to meet different people and new faces that I don’t get to meet at the marathons and the ultra-marathons. It’s very, very special indeed.”

Steyn arrives with formidable credentials. The seven-time Totalsports TWO OCEANS ULTRA MARATHON champion and five-time Comrades Marathon winner has a 10km personal best of 32:24, set in 2020.

The shorter distance will also serve a practical purpose as she rebuilds her speed following another demanding ultra-marathon season.

“I always find that stepping down from the ultra-marathon and marathon distance to race a 10km is very beneficial,” she said.

“After success at the Totalsports TWO OCEANS ULTRA MARATHON and Comrades Marathons this year, I’ve had time to recover and I’m back on the road again, working on my speed.”

The “Smiling Assassin” knows the 10km demands a different kind of aggression.

“The training and the racing for 10km is quite different to the long distances. There’s no room for mistakes. You have to be ready to go from the gun, which forces me to stay sharp and keep focusing on the speed side of my training.”

Steyn has previous experience of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, having competed in the inaugural Tshwane 10K in 2023.

The series began in Cape Town in 2015 and attracted more than 50 000 runners across the country last year. Mangaung becomes its sixth city.

“I think from the start the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has had such a wonderful reputation for bringing mass participation and world-class elite-level performances to the heart of South Africa’s urban spaces,” Steyn said.

“Every runner can attest to the fact that the experience, from entering the race to finishing the race, is always so pleasant, which is why we have seen its tremendous growth.”

For Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder, Steyn’s appearance adds another dimension to the inaugural event.

“Gerda has such a strong connection to the Free State, so to have her return to race here for the first time makes this a particularly special moment,” Meyer said.

The race starts at 07:00 at the Sir George Grey Street exit of Grey College, with the finish on Kings Way.

Steyn’s target is straightforward.

“My aim is to get the most out of myself on race day, which is all I can ask of myself.”

In Mangaung, the ultra queen gets a chance to show how sharp her shorter-distance claws remain.

Websites: www.runyourcityseries.com

Adam Lipschitz smashes Gun Run record as Irvette van Zyl makes winning return after seven years

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Adam Lipschitz smashes Gun Run record as Irvette van Zyl makes winning return after seven years
By Adnaan Mohamed

Adam Lipschitz turned pre-race confidence into a record-breaking performance at the OUTsurance Gun Run Half Marathon, while Irvette van Zyl marked her return to the race with a convincing victory.

Lipschitz had made no secret of his ambition before Sunday’s 21.1km race, arriving in Cape Town determined to attack the course record.

The Social Runners Club KZN athlete delivered on that promise, winning in 1:02:21 and taking down the previous record held by Hollywood Athletics Club’s Joseph Seutloali.

Lipschitz, who won the Gun Run 10km in 2025, controlled the early stages with a series of fartlek-style surges before making the decisive move with about 19km remaining.

The acceleration proved decisive as he broke clear of his rivals and maintained his momentum to the finish.

Seutloali finished second in 1:02:53, with Hollywood teammate Tsépo Ramashamole completing the podium in 1:03:13.

Former Gun Run 21.1km winner Lloyd Bosman of Nedbank Running Club SWD was fourth in 1:03:28, while local athlete Anthony Timoteus finished fifth in 1:04:06.

For Lipschitz, the performance also provided valuable race-specific preparation as he continues building towards the marathon distance.

Irvette Van Zyl returns in style

The women’s race produced another significant performance as Irvette van Zyl returned to the Gun Run Half Marathon after a seven-year absence and claimed victory in 1:14:03.

The 39-year-old Hollywood Athletics Club runner finished nearly three minutes clear of defending champion and clubmate Busisiwe Chamane, who crossed the line in 1:17:24.

Former Gun Run champion Fortunate Chidzivo of Nedbank Running Club WP was third in 1:18:23.

Van Zyl said the conditions and altered route made the race challenging.

“Today’s race was a bit tough. It was really humid because yesterday it rained,” she said.

She also had to adapt to a course that had changed significantly since her previous appearance in 2019.

“There’s a lot of up and down sidewalks and we had a bit of a cobblestone stage we actually run on,” Van Zyl said.

A two-kilometre hill also disrupted her rhythm.

“I would have hoped to run closer to 73, but I just couldn’t get my rhythm going the first 12-ish kilometres,” she said.

Her race improved after the climb, when she returned to the road and later reached the promenade.

“Overall I’m happy with today and happy with the win,” Van Zyl said.

She believes there is scope for a faster performance should she return, having now experienced the revised course.

“Hopefully when I return I can run faster than that, because then I will know what is ahead.”

The Hollywood weekend had already produced a strong result in Saturday’s 10km, where veteran Stephen Mokoka, 41, won in 29:36.

Hollywood AC veteran Stephen Mokoka won the Gun Run 10km on Saturday on debut.

Awethu Ntsotho of Athletes Academy in Boland was second in 29:49, while Eersterivier AC junior Beautin Van der Westhuizen finished third in 30:02.

Russian-born Stellenbosch-based athlete Olga Firsova, 43, won the women’s 10km in 35:17, ahead of Yandiswa Shange (38:12) and Nadia Turton (39:08).

For Lipschitz, the Gun Run provided a record to celebrate. For Van Zyl, it offered a successful return and a glimpse of faster days ahead.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL YOUR GUN RUN 2026 RESULTS:

Image Credits: OUTsurance Gun Run and AAC

Hollywood Athletics Club stars headline Gun Run

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By Adnaan Mohamed

Irvette van Zyl returns to the OUTsurance Gun Run this weekend after a seven-year absence, with the four-time Olympian targeting another fast performance on the Cape Town course where she produced one of the event’s most notable runs.

Van Zyl will contest Sunday’s 21.1km Half Marathon, while fellow Hollywood Athletics Club athlete Stephen Mokoka lines up in Saturday’s 10km, where the 41-year-old veteran enters as one of the leading contenders.

Van Zyl’s last appearance at the Gun Run came in 2019, when she won the women’s half-marathon in 1:12:11.

That remains the second-fastest women’s time in the race’s history, behind Elana van Zyl’s 1:10:55 course record set in 1999.

The performance was particularly impressive given that Van Zyl had undergone significant surgery earlier that year before returning to top form.

Seven years later, she is looking forward to tackling the course again.

“I’m quite excited,” Van Zyl said.

“This is the first time I will be back running it since 2019. I knew I wanted to go back but never had the chance. So yeah, just excited everything worked out this year that I can go and run it.”

The 30-year-old knows the course well and remains fond of its combination of challenge and scenery.

“I like the route. It has a bit of a tough hill in it and yeah, it’s just nice views running it and it’s almost a great atmosphere running in Cape Town and going through C point at the finish.”

Van Zyl has set herself a realistic target rather than chasing her 2019 performance at all costs.

“I’m hoping for close to that time that I did run in 2019. So anything under 73 I’ll be very happy with, but the weather also has to play with. So we’ll see.”

For the South African marathoner, the significance of her return extends beyond the stopwatch.

“But yeah, I’m just excited to be healthy and be running and just be back after seven years of absence and really looking forward to it.”

While Van Zyl will be chasing another strong performance over 21.1km, Mokoka will be aiming to make an immediate impact on his Gun Run debut.

The former South African 10km record holder boasts a 27:38 personal best, recorded in Manchester in 2015, as well as a 59:36 half-marathon best and a 2:06 marathon personal best.

His longevity remains one of the defining features of his career. Mokoka is a four-time Olympian and has represented South Africa at five World Championships.

His 2026 season has also demonstrated that his speed remains intact, including a sub-29-minute performance at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km.

Last year’s Gun Run 10km winner, Adam Lipschitz, has moved up to the half-marathon this year, where he will target the course record.

That leaves Mokoka as the leading name in the 10km field, although several Cape Town-based athletes will be hoping to disrupt his winning plans.

The weekend therefore offers Hollywood Athletics Club two experienced international performers with very different objectives.

For Van Zyl, it is a long-awaited return to a course where she has already left her mark.

For Mokoka, it is an opportunity to add a Gun Run victory to an already decorated distance-running career.

The stopwatch will settle the argument.

Tayla Kavanagh falls, rises to Hollywood Durban 10km victory

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By Adnaan Mohamed

Tayla Kavanagh turned a painful mid-race fall into a powerful statement of resilience when she stormed to victory in the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km at Kingsmead on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Durban-born South African stopped the clock at 31:39 to claim her maiden title in the sold-out race, pocket R40 000 and set a new course record in windy conditions.

Kavanagh had been targeting Glenrose Xaba’s South African 10km record of 31:12, but those ambitions were dented when a male runner tripped her shortly before the 4km mark.

Her response was emphatic.

She got up, gathered herself and resumed the chase.

“No matter what happens, I always tell myself you’ve got to get up and keep going. After I took a fall, that’s exactly what I told myself mentally, just get up, you’ve still got to put in the work and get the job done,” said Kavanagh.

She did exactly that.

Hollywood Athletics Club teammate and defending champion Neheng Khatala finished second in 32:01, with Boxer Running Club’s Karabo Mailula third in 33:01.

The victory added another significant chapter to what is rapidly becoming a breakthrough season for Kavanagh, who has already secured the national 5km and 10km titles and won back-to-back SPAR Women’s 10km races.

The fall also produced a remarkable moment of sportsmanship.

The runner responsible later apologised to Kavanagh, who accepted the apology and embraced him at the finish.

Now her attention turns sharply north.

Kavanagh will represent South Africa in the 5km at the World Championships in Copenhagen on 20 September, with less than three weeks to prepare for another test of her rapidly developing credentials.

“So, I am heading to the World Championships for the 5km in about two and a half weeks. I’m really excited to tackle the 5km on the road and have a good battle out there,” she said.

“I am eager to see what I can accomplish and what we can achieve together. So, that’s my next goal, and I’ll be focusing on that in the upcoming weeks leading up to it.”

The self-coached Kavanagh is embracing the freedom of plotting her own campaign and believes the approach has contributed to her remarkable consistency.

She is also refusing to become consumed by the national 10km record.

The 31:12 mark remains within sight, with Kavanagh confident the opportunity will arrive when the time is right.

For now, Copenhagen is the next finish line.

“I am really excited for this one; it’s in Copenhagen, so I’m looking forward to how fast we can run over 5km.”

Phantane AC’s Tshepo Tshite took the top prize in the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km Image: Hollywood AC

In the men’s race, Phantane Athletics Club’s Tshepo Tshite produced a late surge to win in 28:18, beating Kenya’s Stephen Kangethe by three seconds.

“The race was good even though I think I have bad luck when it comes to 10km,” said Tshite.

The sixth edition attracted 15 000 runners, underlining Durban’s status as one of South Africa’s premier mass-participation road-running events.

The Hollywoodbets 10km series now moves to Johannesburg, where the next race is scheduled for 18 October.

Kavanagh, meanwhile, has another race on the horizon.

This time, the finish line is in Copenhagen.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FULL HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN 10K RESULTS. 

Doreen Cherop targets Tshwane 10K victory

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By Adnaan Mohamed

Doreen Cherop arrived in South Africa as an unknown quantity. She left Durban as a 10km winner. Now the Kenyan has the Tshwane 10K in her sights.

Cherop will return to action at the sold-out Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K on Sunday 23 August, carrying the confidence of a stunning 30:43 victory in Durban last month.

The 22-year-old produced a lifetime best on her international 10km debut, upsetting pre-race favourite Brenda Jepchirchir and announcing herself with a finish-line flourish.

“The 10km course was amazing and the race was very well organised. I wasn’t expecting to win. I was aiming for a podium finish, only to find myself in a winning position,” Cherop said.

“I think I won because I believed in my training.”

That belief now faces a sterner examination in Tshwane, where Cherop will confront another high-quality field and the demands of racing at altitude.

She knows the script cannot be copied and pasted from Durban.

“It feels good to run with champions. I am still gaining more experience on how to run 10km. So I want to run my own race and do my best.”

It is a quietly confident approach from an athlete whose first international 10km outing produced a result loud enough to turn heads across the road-running world.

Cherop has the speed to light the fuse. Tshwane will test her tactical patience and ability to manage the pressure of arriving as a favourite.

Stillwater Sports managing director Michael Meyer expects another fiercely contested women’s race.

“Doreen’s performance in Durban was a great introduction to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, and we’re excited to see what she can produce when she takes on the challenging Tshwane course,” Meyer said.

“We’re expecting another exciting battle for the podium in Tshwane.”

The race starts at 08:00 from Stanza Bopape Street in Arcadia, with the same road serving as the finish.

The 2026 series has already produced serious fireworks. Adriaan Wildschutt won Gqeberha in 27:47, Brenda Jepchirchir claimed the women’s race in 30:15 and Joshua Cheptegei scorched Durban in 27:19. The Cape Town event was cancelled because of a severe weather forecast.

Tshwane is next.

Cherop has already shown she can finish with the champagne.

Now she wants another taste.

From Comrades glory to Tshwane 10K speed test

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By Adnaan Mohamed

George Kusche has conquered the Comrades Marathon. Now the reigning champion wants to find out whether his legs still have enough sting to mix it with the 10km specialists.

Kusche will line up at the sold-out Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K on 23 August, with Kenya’s Salem Kibet arriving with victory firmly in his sights.

The 28-year-old Kusche has never been a one-distance pony. A sub-four-minute mile and 13:28.95 5000m personal best from his US NCAA days provided the speed foundation for his road-running career.

A 28:56 10km in Gqeberha in 2024 was followed by a 2:20:12 marathon debut in Cape Town and fourth place at last year’s Soweto Marathon.

Then came his Comrades masterpiece.

George Kusche is set to tackle the Tshwane 10k in his home town Pretoria. PHOTO CREDIT: Action Photo

Kusche clocked 5:15:56 on 14 June to obliterate the Up Run record by more than eight minutes. It was an ultra-marathon performance with a sprinter’s heartbeat underneath it.

Now he wants to put that speed back under the microscope.

“It’s very important for me to run a fast 10km because I train as a marathon athlete year-round and then I switch to Comrades-specific training in March,” Kusche said.

“And if you want to be a good marathoner, you must be able to run a good 10km. So I’m hoping to be able to run a good race at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K. I’d love to see if I can run sub-30 minutes, which should be a good time at altitude. I’m curious to see how well I can do. I’m in decent shape and I’m really looking forward to this.”

A sub-30-minute run could put Kusche in the thick of the action, although Tshwane’s hills have a habit of turning confident runners into humble pedestrians. Only 10 men broke 30 minutes in last year’s race.

Kibet knows the terrain and the pace required.

Joshua Cheptegei and Salem Kibet in action at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in July this year. PHOTO CREDIT: Anthony Grote

The Kenyan arrives after running a lifetime-best 27:29 for second behind Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei in Durban last month. He now wants to move one place higher.

“My target is to improve on my performance from Durban and compete for the win,” Kibet said.

“Finishing second in Durban was not easy, especially running alongside a great athlete like Joshua Cheptegei. That experience taught me a lot. I thank God for the opportunity, and I am looking forward to giving my best in Tshwane.”

Stillwater Sports managing director Michael Meyer believes the meeting of Kusche’s endurance and Kibet’s speed could add serious spice to the Pretoria showdown.

“George Kusche’s decision to test himself over 10km against a field of established specialists adds another fascinating dimension to what is shaping up to be a highly competitive Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K,” Meyer said.

“He has already shown that he has the speed and endurance to compete at the highest level, and it will be exciting to see what he can produce over 10km after his record-breaking Comrades victory.”

Kusche brings the endurance. Kibet brings the velocity. Tshwane supplies the hills.

The stopwatch will deliver the verdict.

Emma Pallant-Browne embraces Women’s Month challenge

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By Adnaan Mohamed

Emma Pallant-Browne believes motherhood has given her a new finish line to chase.

The British triathlon star and former international track and cross-country runner will make her Totalsports Women’s Race debut in Durban on Sunday before returning for the Johannesburg race on August 16, marking her first major 10km campaign since the birth of her son a year ago.

Her return arrives during Women’s Month, with the sold-out series continuing to celebrate women in sport while shining a spotlight on athletes balancing elite competition, careers and family life.

“Coming back after having my son, I’m starting to get injury-free and run a bit faster, so I was looking to race a fast 10km at sea level, and the Totalsports Women’s Race came highly recommended to me,” Pallant-Browne said.

“My goal is to take part in two Totalsports Women’s Race events this year, so I will also be lining up in Joburg on 16 August.”

The 36-year-old said becoming a mother has strengthened her passion for women’s sport and highlighted the importance of creating opportunities where female athletes can thrive.

“Women in sport is my absolute passion, especially now as a mother. I used to see a lot of women at races with their kids supporting ‘Daddy’, and it’s so great to now see dads on the sidelines with the kids supporting ‘Mummy’ and giving her the opportunity to have her time to shine.

“I think there are still barriers in women’s sport that see many women dropping out during their teenage years or when life gets busy and they start a family, but events like this really elevate women’s running and give women their time to shine.”

Motherhood has also reshaped the way she trains.

“There are a million reasons now not to get my session in, and I think it makes you want it a bit more,” she said.

“Knowing that we are bringing my son into a life where we show him that if you want to be good at something, you have to work hard for it, is what I keep thinking when times get tough. What example am I setting for him?

“My body has definitely had more injuries, but it’s made me more patient, better at problem-solving and time management, and more resilient when facing setbacks.”

She encouraged mothers returning to exercise after pregnancy to be patient.

Emma Pallant-Browne in action at the Two Oceans Half Marathon 2026 Photo: Mark Sampson

“Take baby steps, start with a jog or walk, build up gradually and enjoy the process. It’s so rewarding to see the progress you make and to track your improvements each week. Most importantly, don’t neglect strength training.”

Pallant-Browne has set herself a clear target for Durban.

“Running faster than 34 minutes would be a good start for me. It will be my first fast 10km postpartum, so I want to see what my body can do at the moment and then build from there.

“It would mean so much to me to start winning races again, but most of all I want to know that I gave it my all in Durban and Joburg, and pushed as hard as I could.”

Totalsports head of marketing Nikki Crous believes Pallant-Browne’s story reflects the spirit of the event.

“Emma’s return to competition after becoming a mother is both inspiring and a powerful reminder that women can continue to pursue their goals at every stage of life,” Crous said.

“Her passion for empowering women through sport perfectly reflects what the Totalsports Women’s Race stands for. We look forward to seeing her take on both the Durban and Joburg events and wish her every success as she embarks on this exciting new chapter.”

With entries for Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg already sold out, Pallant-Browne’s comeback promises to be one of the standout stories of this year’s Women’s Month celebrations.

For more information on PinkDrive visit www.pinkdrive.org For further information on the Totalsports Women’s Race
visit www.totalsportswomensrace.co.za

Joshua Cheptegei chases history on return to Durban 10K

Adnaan MohamedNews, PreviewLeave a Comment on Joshua Cheptegei chases history on return to Durban 10K
By Adnaan Mohamed

Joshua Cheptegei will return to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday, the race that launched his rise to international stardom, with another slice of history firmly in his sights.

The reigning Olympic 10,000m champion is aiming to become the first athlete to run a sub-27-minute 10km on African soil, adding another milestone to an already glittering career.

The 29-year-old Ugandan first claimed victory in Durban in 2017 before producing a South African All-Comers record of 27:16 a year later. Since then, he has cemented his place among the greatest distance runners of his generation, winning Olympic gold, three World Championship titles over 10,000m and setting world records in both the 5,000m and 10,000m.

Armed with a personal best of 26:38, Cheptegei believes the historic barrier can fall, provided the leading contenders work together.

“Running is the same as football these days, it has become a team sport. If the organisers want us to run sub-27 minutes all of us must come together then something good can happen,” said Cheptegei.

Standing in his way will be defending champion Kabelo Mulaudzi, former South African 10km record holder Stephen Mokoka and Kenyan speedster Gilbert Kiprotich, all capable of setting a relentless pace from the gun.

Mulaudzi, a two-time Durban champion, is eager to continue his impressive record in the coastal city.

“I have done well in Durban in the past and I want to continue with that record. I think I’m in good shape, although I struggled with race fitness at the Great Manchester 10K Run on 31 May. I don’t want to put myself under pressure, but my goal remains the same. I always want to finish on the podium,” said Mulaudzi.

Kiprotich, who recorded a blistering 27:01 10km split during this year’s Lisbon Half Marathon, believes Cheptegei’s presence could inspire the entire field to faster times.

“The reason I decided to come to Durban is because I wanted to get a personal best time. Cheptegei is here and I know we are going to push. When a strong and a good athlete comes to race it means we are going to help each other to push the pace,” said Kiprotich.

Elite Women Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K by Dawn Oosthuis

The women’s race promises its own historic storyline. Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir, the fastest entrant with a personal best of 29:25, is chasing the first sub-30-minute women’s 10km ever run on African soil.

“If the weather is good and the body responds, I’ll push,” said Jepchirchir.

South Africa’s Tayla Kavanagh, winner of the 2021 edition when the race doubled as the SA 10km Championships, is hoping home support will inspire another memorable performance.

“It’s special to have hometown support and I’m looking forward to Sunday. The Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K is special to me because I won the race in 2021 when it doubled as the SA 10km Championships. I’m excited to see what we can produce on Sunday,” said Kavanagh.

The race starts at 07:00 on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue alongside Moses Mabhida Stadium and finishes at the Sunkist Lawns on the Durban Promenade.