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Doreen Cherop targets Tshwane 10K victory

Adnaan MohamedNewsLeave a Comment on Doreen Cherop targets Tshwane 10K victory
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.

Kenyan star Jerono wins Totalsports Women’s Race

Adnaan MohamedNewsLeave a Comment on Kenyan star Jerono wins Totalsports Women’s Race

Kenyan road-running star Daisilah Jerono arrived in South Africa with a simple mission: test her training. She left Cape Town with gold around her neck.

The world No. 7 half-marathon runner produced a composed 31:29 to win the Totalsports Women’s Race Cape Town on Sunday, 9 August, adding another international victory to an already impressive 2026 campaign.

The 1:05:21 Berlin half marathon performer, currently the second-fastest Kenyan over the distance this year, had hoped to sharpen the racing blade ahead of bigger challenges. Cape Town instead handed her a podium finish on a platter.

The course offered little charity, with wind and rolling undulations testing every stride. Jerono kept her rhythm ticking like a metronome, refusing to let the conditions derail her charge.

Daisilah Jerono claims gold at the Totalsports Women’s Race Cape Town in 31:29. PHOTO CREDIT: David Sullivan

“The race was tough. It was windy, with a few ups and downs, but I am happy to have run today,” said Jerono.

Her victory was even sweeter because it came without expectation.

“This is my first time in South Africa. I didn’t come with the idea of winning; I came to see where I am in my training.”

The Cape Town crowd helped propel her over the finish line.

“The runners were so cheerful, and I really liked how they cheered for us. I am so happy to win today. I was not expecting it; it’s by God’s grace. God willing, maybe I’ll come back next year.”

Faith Cherono, also of Kenya, finished second, with Lesotho’s Neheng Khatala completing the podium.

Elite Women’s Podium (from left to right): Neheng Khatala (Lesotho), Daisilah Jerono (Kenya) and Faith Cherono (Kenya). PHOTO CREDIT: David Sullivan

Jerono was among 10 000 entrants who turned Cape Town’s streets into a moving celebration of women, fitness and community on National Women’s Day, while raising support for PinkDrive.

For Stillwater Sports Managing Director Michael Meyer, the day delivered both elite competition and mass-participation magic.

“Congratulations to Daisilah Jerono on a truly outstanding performance. The standard of elite racing at this year’s Totalsports Women’s Race Cape Town was exceptional, with an exciting display of talent and determination from start to finish,” said Meyer.

He also highlighted the wider significance of the event before looking ahead to Johannesburg on 16 August, following successful races in Durban and Cape Town.

Totalsports Head of Marketing Nikki Crous Photo: Adnaan Mohamed

Totalsports Head of Marketing Nikki Crous said the event again demonstrated the power of women united by sport and purpose.

“The Totalsports Women’s Race Cape Town once again showcased the incredible power of women coming together to celebrate fitness, friendship and purpose,” said Crous.

With the Mother City roaring and 10 000 women adding their footsteps to the occasion, Jerono’s debut became the fastest chapter of a much bigger story: competition with a conscience, celebration with a finish line.

RESULTS – TOP 10 / Totalsports Women’s Race Cape Town 2026

Date: Sunday 09 August 2026

Start Time: 08:00

Start Venue: Darling Street, Cape Town

Finish Venue: Grand Parade, Cape Town

Top 10 Elite Field

1 Daisilah Jerono (Kenya) 31:29, 2 Faith Cherono (Kenya) 31:32, 3 Neheng Khatala (Lesotho) 33:23, 4 Olga Firsova (Australia) 36:20, 5 Marie-Tinka Olivier (South Africa) 37:25, 6 Nicole Van Wyk (South Africa) 37:43, 7 Deanne Laubscher (South Africa) 38:07, 8 Lauren Jonathan (South Africa) 38:18, 9 Yandiswa Shange (South Africa) 38:39, 10 Mia Steytler (South Africa) 38:49

FIND THE FULL RESULTS HERE:

Durban 10K delivers elite spectacle as Cheptegei eyes history

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Durban 10K delivers elite spectacle as Cheptegei eyes history
By Adnaan Mohamed

Joshua Cheptegei believes Africa’s first sub-27 minute 10km road race is within reach after claiming victory in Sunday’s Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K.

The Ugandan Olympic champion stopped the clock in 27:19, the second fastest 10km ever run on African soil, after averaging 2:44 per kilometre on Durban’s fast course.

Top three men’s finishers at the Durban 10K by Action Photo

Kenya’s Salem Kibet finished second in 27:29, while Uganda’s Emmanuel Kibet completed the podium in 27:32.

The strength of the elite field was reflected by the performances of the leading South Africans. Defending champion Kabelo Mulaudzi was the first local athlete home in sixth place in 28:06, while Durban favourite Tayla Kavanagh equalled her personal best of 31:28 to finish fourth in the women’s race. Hollywood Athletics Club teammate Neheng Khatala of Lesotho crossed the line fifth in 32:04.

Hollywood AC stars Tayla Kavanagh and Neheng Khatala were the first SA women across the finish line Photo: Gavin Ryan

Cheptegei, who won the Durban race in 2017 before setting a South African All-Comers record of 27:16 a year later, said the elusive barrier remains achievable with stronger pacing support.

“I’m so happy to be here again. Running in the streets of Durban with such an incredible field was spectacular. My goal was to run sub-27, but it wasn’t possible today,” said Cheptegei.

“Maybe we needed a pacemaker to take us through 5km and then speed up again later. To win again and set a new course record makes me happy and gives me motivation moving forward.”

The 29-year-old, regarded as one of the greatest distance runners of his generation, felt the pace eased too early.

“Sometimes you plan to run faster and you need help from different athletes. I realised it wasn’t going to be possible because the tempo wasn’t fast enough and I had to push by myself.”

Cheptegei remains convinced the landmark performance will happen on African roads.

“I believe it’s very possible. We need more support with the pacemaking duties and then we can see a sub-27 here. The course is spectacular, the conditions were perfect and the level of competition was really good.”

He also praised the organisers for assembling one of the strongest international fields seen in South Africa.

“These events give athletes opportunities to showcase their talent and become sporting heroes. Such incentives help develop the sport and South Africa is headed in the right direction.”

The women’s race produced a Kenyan clean sweep as Doreen Cherop claimed the biggest victory of her career in 30:43, finishing ahead of Brenda Jepchirchir (30:52) and Beatrice Chepkoech (31:25).

Top three women finishers at the Durban 10K by Action Photo

“My target was to finish on the podium. I’m so happy to become the winner today. I didn’t expect it,” said Cherop.

“We reached 5km in about 15:04, which was fast for me. When I got close to Brenda, I found extra energy and kicked all the way to the finish.”

Cherop said she hopes to return to Durban after exceeding her own expectations.

“I expected to run 31 minutes, but I ran 30. I’ll be back because the weather is good and the race is good.”

Although the historic time barriers remained intact, Sunday’s performances reinforced the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K’s reputation as one of Africa’s premier road races and showed that the continent is edging ever closer to another landmark moment.

Elite start of the Durban 10K PHOTO CREDIT: Anthony Grote

RESULTS: 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K

Date: Sunday 12 July 2026

Start: Masabalala Yengwa Avenue (MY)

Finish Venue: Sunkist Lawns, Durban Promenade

Start Time: 07:00

ELITE MEN

1 Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) 27:19, 2. Salem Kibet (Kenya) 27:29, 3 Emmanuel Kibet (Uganda) 27:32, 4 Victor Okoth (Kenya) 27:50, 5 Agustino Daniel (Tanzania) 28:03, 6 Kabelo Mulaudzi (South Africa) 28:06, 7 Alex Lenalepisho (Kenya) 28:10, 8 Musawenkosi Mnisi (South Africa) 28:11, 9 Filex Masai (Kenya) 28:13, 10 Leonard Kwerit (Uganda) 28:19

ELITE WOMEN 

1 Doreen Cherop (Kenya) 30:43, 2 Brenda Jepchirchir (Kenya) 30:52, 3 Beatrice Chepkoech (Kenya) 31:25, 4 Tayla Kavanagh (South Africa) 31:28, 5 Neheng Khatala (Lesotho) 32:04, 6 Cacisile Sosibo (South Africa) 32:36, 7. 

Jackline Rotich (Kenya) 32:52, 8 Zanthe Taljaard (South Africa) 33:49, 9 Ntsoaki Molahloe (South Africa) 33:59, 10. Zanele Maisa (South Africa) 34:21