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Wildschutt targets sub-27 milestone in Gqeberha

Adnaan MohamedNewsLeave a Comment on Wildschutt targets sub-27 milestone in Gqeberha
By Adnaan Mohamed

South African multiple record holder Adriaan Wildschutt will toe the line at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday morning determined to make history, while keeping his emotions in check.

The US-based runner has spent an extended training block in Potchefstroom ahead of the 7am start in Nelson Mandela Bay, fine-tuning the engine that powered him to a then national 10km record of 27:28 in Gqeberha last year.

That mark was eclipsed five months later when Maxime Chaumeton clocked 26:55 in Romania, leaving Wildschutt with a fresh target. His focus now is clear: become the first athlete to break 27 minutes for 10km on African soil in the country of his birth.

Yet, as race day approaches, he admits the magnitude of the task has been hard to ignore.

Wildschutt said he is doing everything possible not to overthink the opportunity.

“I never even thought about that to be honest because Ive realised in the last few years that you can break so many records only for them to be broken the next day, so I’m not so focused about records any more. There are a lot of things I do in my life and things I’m interested in because if you are going to obsess over records, it’s just going to result in sadness at the end of the day.

“For me, I just want to run sub-27, and I think it’s going to be a mental thing because it will be the first time that’s been done on African soil.”

Wildschutt, who finished tenth in the men’s 10 000m final at the Paris Olympics, believes familiarity with the Gqeberha course could prove decisive. Having made his race debut there last year, he returns with a clearer understanding of the coastal conditions.

“I know the course now and know which direction the wind blows unless it changes again because you never really know. We also have pacers now, and there is a person we are confident in that can push all the way to 5km, because last year we were well off pace early on and that made it so much harder to run by yourself. In that department, we are already better and hopefully my fitness is good enough.”

Last year he voiced frustration at the early pace. This time, the experienced Kenyan Isaac Kibet Ndiema, who owns a 26:55 personal best, is expected to help drive the tempo at the front.

Even so, Wildschutt insists his race will be dictated by execution rather than rivalry.

At Friday’s pre-race press conference, he underlined his readiness.

“I had a great experience here in Gqeberha last year. It’s a world class event happening in a great city. I’m feeling good and hopefully I can deliver on Sunday,”

He also acknowledged the formula required for something special.

“To run fast anywhere in the world you need a high level of competition, great pace making and good weather. I’m not saying that to be arrogant, but rather acknowledging that I need other people to work with to help me to achieve this tough goal. I’m grateful to Absa for making it happen. If I can manage to do it, it would be the second best performance of my career behind the Olympics,”

For Wildschutt, discovered as a teenager by Zola Budd and now one of the country’s most accomplished distance runners, Sunday is less about reclaiming a record and more about crossing a psychological frontier.

Women’s field chasing history

The women’s contest carries similar weight.

Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir arrives as the 10km world leader after running 29:25 in Valencia in January. She is targeting the first sub-30 minute performance by a woman on African soil.

“Running my first sub 30 minute race to win the Valencia 10K was so emotional. I’m happy to be here to race in South Africa because I hear that it’s a fast course. My aim is to break my personal best time and hopefully make history by running the fastest time on African soil.”

She heads a deep field that includes fellow Kenyan Faith Cherono, South African record holder Glenrose Xaba, and Lesotho national record holder Neheng Khatala.

Series opener sets the tone

The Gqeberha race launches the 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, which will travel to Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane and Joburg later in the year. The five-race circuit boasts a combined prize purse of R1 686 000, with incentives aimed at unlocking elite performances from South African athletes.

On Sunday, though, the mathematics are simple. Twenty-seven minutes stands as the line in the sand for Wildschutt. If the pacemakers hit their marks and the coastal breeze plays along, Gqeberha could witness a breakthrough that reshapes the African 10km narrative.

Xaba targets SA 10km record in stacked Gqeberha showdown

Adnaan MohamedNews, PreviewLeave a Comment on Xaba targets SA 10km record in stacked Gqeberha showdown
By Adnaan Mohamed

South African 10km record holder Glenrose Xaba will launch her 2026 campaign with history in her sights when she lines up at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday, 1 March.

Xaba returns to Nelson Mandela Bay off the back of a demanding but productive 2025 season in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, where she claimed three podium finishes, including two victories. Her year also included the second marathon of her career and national duty at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in the United States.

After a brief recovery phase, she says preparations have progressed smoothly.

“The body is feeling good,” Xaba said. “After World Cross Country, the focus was on recovery, easy mileage and strength work before building intensity again. Training has been consistent, and I feel stronger each week.”

The 2026 Gqeberha race is being billed as the fastest women’s 10km field assembled on African soil. Kenya’s sub-30-minute performer Brenda Jepchirchir and compatriot Faith Cherono headline a formidable East African contingent.

For Xaba, the quality of the field presents opportunity rather than intimidation.

“Being part of such a strong field is exciting and motivating,” she said. “When you line up against fast Kenyan athletes and other top runners, it pushes you to perform at your best.”

Xaba holds the South African women’s 10km record of 31:12 and finished third in Gqeberha last year in 31:50. With an anticipated aggressive early pace, she could become the first South African woman to dip under the 31-minute mark.

“I have great memories from racing in Gqeberha last year and finishing on the podium,” she added. “This time, I want to improve on that performance. My target is to run a personal best and compete for the top positions again.”

Glenrose Xaba 2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K by Anthony Grote

Series founder and Stillwater Sports Managing Director Michael Meyer welcomed Xaba’s return, highlighting the significance of staging a world-class women’s field on home soil.

“We are incredibly proud to see Glenrose line up against world-class competitors,” Meyer said. “Hosting what is arguably the fastest women’s 10km field on the continent is a milestone for the event.”

The Gqeberha race opens a five-leg national series that will travel to Cape Town (10 May), Durban (12 July), Tshwane (23 August) and Joburg (24 September).

With a combined prize purse of R1 686 000 and additional incentives for South African athletes, the stakes are high. But for Xaba, the primary target remains the clock.

If the pace unfolds as predicted along the coastal route, South African road running could witness a landmark performance to kick-start 2026.

2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Dates

  1. 1 March 2026 – Gqeberha 10K
  2. 10 May 2026 – Cape Town 10K
  3. 12 July 2026 – Durban 10K
  4. 23 August 2026 – Tshwane 10K
  5. 24 September 2026 – Joburg 10K

For more info visit: https://runyourcityseries.com/

Kavanagh, Nose target fast season starts at Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K

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By Adnaan Mohamed

South Africa’s elite distance runners Tayla Kavanagh and Cwenga Nose will look to kick-start their 2026 campaigns in style at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday, 1 March, where flat roads and quality fields promise early-season speed.

Kavanagh arrives buoyed by a standout 2025 season in which she became the fourth-fastest South African women’s 10km runner of all time. The Hollywood Athletics Club athlete has shifted her focus back to the track this year, aiming to sharpen speed before transferring it to the road.

“This year, I will be focusing quite a lot on the track. Track is something I need to work on as it doesn’t come naturally to me,” said Kavanagh.
“I want to challenge myself in order to develop as an athlete… I’m hoping to get some speed and translate that speed to the road.”

She opened her season by winning the 3 000m at the first KZNA League Meeting in a career-best 9:00.21, and says Gqeberha is about setting the tone.

“The goal for the first race of the season is to lay down a good solid foundation,” she said.
“I get the best results when I just run. If I’m calm and relaxed, I run at my best.”

Eastern Cape favourite Cwenga Nose, the 2025 SA 10 000m silver medallist, will be equally motivated on home roads. The Phantane AC runner opened his season with a 28:45 win at the Colchester 10km and is eyeing an improvement on his 28:41 personal best.

“I’m in very good shape because I spent the whole December training hard to have a good season,” said Nose.
“The plan is to stick to the race plan and run my own race.”

According to Series Founder Michael Meyer, the stage is set.

“Gqeberha consistently produces world-class performances, and we are confident it will provide the perfect platform for Tayla and Cwenga to test themselves against the very best.”

Websites: www.runyourcityseries.com

World No.1 Brenda Jepchirchir targets historic Sub-30 African 10K debut in Gqeberha

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Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir, the 20-year-old world No.1 will toe the line at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday, 1 March 2026, chasing history and dragging the pace of women’s road running on the continent into uncharted territory.

Fresh from her electrifying victory at the Valencia 10K in January, where she scorched the streets in 29:25, Jepchirchir has already torn through one of distance running’s most stubborn psychological barriers. Now she’s eyeing something even bigger: becoming the first woman to run a sub-30-minute 10km road race on African soil.

Jepchirchir’s rise has been built on patience and precision. Her Valencia performance launched her to the top of the 2026 world rankings and cemented her status as one of the sport’s most feared road racers. But rather than staying on Europe’s lucrative circuit, she’s followed the fast lane south. It’s a path previously carved by icons such as Genzebe Dibaba and Yelamzerf Yehualu.

The draw is simple: the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has become a speed laboratory where elite athletes don’t just chase times, they manufacture them.

“I’ve heard great things about the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series and the Gqeberha 10K. The course is known for being fast, the organisation is excellent, and the competition is strong. I’m excited to experience racing in South Africa and to be part of such a high-energy event,” Jepchirchir said.

Her presence transforms the race into a high-octane proving ground for South Africa’s leading women’s 10km specialists, particularly Glenrose Xaba and Tayla Kavanagh amongst others. Both runners have steadily tightened their grip on the domestic road scene, and lining up beside the world’s fastest woman is the equivalent of stepping onto a treadmill that keeps accelerating.

For Xaba, a proven championship racer with tactical steel, Jepchirchir’s relentless tempo could serve as the perfect pacing carrot, or a punishing reality check. Meanwhile, Kavanagh’s fearless front-running style could thrive in a race that promises to unfold at record-threatening speed. The clash offers South African athletes a rare opportunity to test themselves against global gold standard pacing without leaving home soil.

Jepchirchir’s breakthrough wasn’t accidental. It was the product of months spent stacking disciplined mileage like bricks in a foundation built for speed.

“It was an amazing feeling and a very special moment for me. Valencia is such a competitive race, so winning there and breaking 30 minutes for the first time meant a lot,” she explained.

“The biggest factor has been consistency. Over the last six months I’ve been able to train well, stay healthy, and really build momentum. On 1 March, the goal is to put together a strong race, compete well, and see what time is possible on the day. If conditions are right, I’d love to run fast again, but the focus must also be on execution and racing smart.”

Race organisers believe Jepchirchir’s debut injects jet fuel into an already electric event.

“To have the current world No.1, fresh off a sensational win in Valencia, choose to make her South African debut at our event speaks volumes about the stature of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series,” said Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder.

“Brenda’s presence raises the bar once again and guarantees an exciting, world-class race for both elite and recreational runners on the streets of Nelson Mandela Bay.”

With a combined prize purse of R1.686 million across the 2026 series, alongside performance incentives designed to reward South African athletes, the Gqeberha leg promises fireworks.

Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K START by Anthony Grote

When the starter’s gun cracks, the race could unfold like a perfectly executed negative split: smooth, controlled, and devastatingly fast when it matters most.

2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series dates

1 March: Gqeberha 10K

10 May: Cape Town 10K

12 July: Durban 10K

23 August: Tshwane 10K 24 September: Joburg 10K

For more info visit: https://runyourcityseries.com/

Gqeberha 10K launches Absa RUN YOUR CITY 2026

Adnaan MohamedNews, PreviewLeave a Comment on Gqeberha 10K launches Absa RUN YOUR CITY 2026
By Adnaan Mohamed

Every racing season needs a clean start. A place where legs feel fresh, goals feel possible and the road seems to pull you forward. For the fourth straight year, that place is Gqeberha.

On Sunday, 1 March 2026, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K returns as the opening stride of South Africa’s premier road-running series. By now, it knows exactly what runners want. Speed. Rhythm. Atmosphere. And just enough magic to carry you through the tough kilometres.

The route is the headline act. Fast, flat and honest, it rewards controlled pacing and a strong final push. Early kilometres invite restraint, the middle settles into flow, and the closing stretch offers the kind of terrain where PBs are either confirmed or heartbreakingly missed by seconds. Add coastal air, wide roads and landmark scenery, and it’s easy to see why elites and everyday runners keep coming back.

Absa RUN YOUR CITY Gqeberha 10K by Anthony Grote

But this race isn’t just about what’s underfoot, it’s about what’s around you.

From the first kilometre, the course hums with energy. Music zones, performers and brand activations break the run into manageable segments, turning the 10K into a sequence of small victories rather than a single long grind.

“We’re excited to kick off the 2026 series in style with the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K in ‘The Friendly City’,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports.

“Not only will runners and supporters witness world-class racing on home soil, but they’ll also experience 10km running at its finest, complete with unforgettable on-route entertainment brought to life by our sponsors and local performing arts groups. We can’t wait to start the season with a bang – come join us and #RunYourCity!”

That balance, elite performance paired with inclusive experience, is what has defined the RUN YOUR CITY Series. Major partners including Absa, PUMA, Powerade, AVIS and Heineken line the route with activations that feel purposeful rather than distracting, offering both visual lift and psychological relief when the legs start asking questions.

For Absa, the race is about more than kilometres logged.

“At Absa, we are passionate about creating memorable experiences that bring communities together,” says Jabulile Nsibanyoni, Absa Group Head of Sponsorship.

“The entertainment along the route is thoughtfully curated to celebrate the city’s rich heritage and cultural traditions, turning the race into a vibrant tribute to the spirit of the Eastern Cape coastline. Both participants and spectators can look forward to a dynamic showcase of performances that reflect the warmth, diversity, and energy that Gqeberha is known for.”

PUMA, meanwhile, continues to lean into the runner experience itself.

Absa RUN YOUR CITY Gqeberha 10K by Anthony Grote

“We love supporting, motivating, and inspiring runners of all levels,” says Rae Trew-Browne, PUMA Run Train Marketing Manager.

“In 2026, we’re excited to introduce a brand-new campaign. We’re not letting the cat out of the bag just yet, but one thing is certain: every runner who passes through the PUMA Zone on race day will be treated to a fun, energising, and memorable experience that celebrates the joy of running and the spirit of the series.”

With five races across five cities, Gqeberha doesn’t just open the series, it sets the tone. Smooth roads. Big noise. And a reminder of why we race in the first place.

2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Dates

  • 1 March – Gqeberha 10K
  • 10 May – Cape Town 10K
  • 12 July – Durban 10K
  • 23 August – Tshwane 10K
  • 24 September – Joburg 10K