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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.

If fatigue was knocking on the door, Xaba refused to answer.

Behind her, Boxer teammate Karabo More produced another breakthrough performance, powering to second place in a brilliant personal best of 32:21.

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)

More’s run added another layer to a dominant day for Boxer AC, with the club securing the top two places on the podium.

Ethiopian Selam Gebre of Nedbank completed the podium in 32:33, but the morning belonged to Xaba.

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.

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.

Kabelo Mulaudzi defends Joburg 10K crown

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By Adnaan Mohamed

Kabelo Mulaudzi made his move when it mattered to defend his Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K title on Heritage Day, winning in 28:48 as Kenya’s Deborah Chemutai claimed her first Series victory in 32:50.

Mulaudzi raised his arms in celebration as he crossed the finish on Rahima Moosa Street after a tactical race on a hilly course in hot conditions.

The Boxer Athletics Club runner, who won four of the five Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series races last year, stayed in the chasing bunch behind early pace-setter Dolphine Chelimo of Uganda before making his move in the final 3km.

He surged past Chelimo and held on to finish nine seconds outside his course record of 28:39.

“I wanted to defend my title because everyone had forgotten about me. I’m happy to be back. It’s my first win of the year and in the series. I’m very happy,” Mulaudzi said.

The 28-year-old has endured a frustrating season with a hamstring injury, but said the problem was no longer troubling him.

“I’ve been struggling this year but I’m happy with my performance and defending my title. The injury is fine. It’s just that the race was tactical because it’s high altitude, it’s hot and you are running fast and slow. So, you have to adjust.”

Mulaudzi finished four seconds ahead of teammate Zenzile Pheko, who secured his second consecutive runner-up finish after also placing second in Tshwane.

Kenya’s Stephen Kangethe matched Pheko’s 28:52, taking third after a sprint finish.

Mulaudzi thanked coach Richard Mayer, Series founder Michael Meyer, sponsor PUMA SA and Boxer for their support.

“I would like to thank my coach and Ntate Michael Meyer for organising such a good race, as well as my sponsor PUMA SA and club Boxer for their support.”

Chemutai strikes Joburg gold

Chemutai produced a commanding run to win the women’s race in 32:50, improving on the third place she achieved in Tshwane in August.

The Kenyan led a clean sweep of the podium, with compatriot Mercy Jelimo second in 33:10 and Esther Borura third in 33:27.

Great Britain’s Emma Pallant-Browne was fourth in 34:15, followed by Kenya’s Dorcus Chepkwemoi in 34:21.

Defending champion Karabo Mailula was the leading South African in sixth in 34:44, with Hollywood Athletics Club’s Irvette van Zyl seventh in 34:45.

“I’m happy to win the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K. The race was hard but I tried. It was my second 10km race,” Chemutai said.

“The course was hard and it was a little bit windy but I’m happy I won.”

Joburg was the fifth completed stop on the 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series after Gqeberha, Durban and Tshwane, with Cape Town cancelled because of severe weather forecasts.

The Series heads to Bloemfontein on 25 October for the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K, with the race starting at 07:00 and entries closing on 8 October or when capacity is reached.

The event also featured a Chery vehicle giveaway, with Prudence Gumbi winning a new vehicle valued at R269,900.

CLICK  HERE FOR YOUR RESULTS:

RESULTS: 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K

Date: Thursday 24 September 2026

Start Line: Lilian Ngoyi Street

Finish Line: Rahima Moosa Street

Start Time: 08:00

ELITE MEN

1 Kabelo Mulaudzi (South Africa) 28:48, 2 Zenzile Pheko (South Africa) 28:52, 3 Stephen Ngigi Kangethe (Kenya) 28:52, 4 Dolphine Chelimo (Uganda) 28:59, 5 George Kusche (South Africa) 29:00, 6 Onalenna Khonkhobi (South Africa) 29:10, 7 Bennett Seloyi (South Africa) 29:12, 8 Tumelo Motlagale (South Africa) 29:17, 9 Chris Mhlanga (South Africa) 29:37, 10 Musawenkosi Mnisi (South Africa) 29:40

ELITE WOMEN

1 Deborah Chemutai (Kenya) 32:50, 2 Mercy Jelimo (Kenya) 33:10, 3 Esther Borura (Kenya) 33:27, 4 Emma Pallant-Browne (Great Britain) 34:15, 5 Dorcus Chepkwemoi (Kenya) 34:21, 6 Karabo Mailula (South Africa) 34:44, 7 Irvette van Zyl (South Africa) 34:51, 8 Dirbe Techanie Dagne (South Africa) 34:55, 9 Zanele Maisa (Ethiopia) 36:01, 10 Malineo Mahloko (Lesotho) 36:27

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

Adnaan MohamedComrades Marathon, Features, Preview, Totalsports Two Oceans MarathonLeave a Comment on Gerda Steyn’s Free State homecoming gets a 10km twist
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

Two Oceans 2027: Beat the clock before race day

Adnaan MohamedEvent Update!, Features, News, Totalsports Two Oceans MarathonLeave a Comment on Two Oceans 2027: Beat the clock before race day
By Adnaan Mohamed

Thousands of Totalsports TWO OCEANS MARATHON powered by BYD hopefuls are pounding the roads, chewing up kilometres and dreaming of glory on Cape Town’s famous 56km route.

But there is another race nobody can afford to lose.

The race against the clock.

For ballot winners targeting the 2027 Two Oceans Ultra and Half Marathon, missing a crucial deadline could turn months of sweat, sacrifice and training into a cruel calendar casualty.

The organisers have issued their warning.

Ultra runners have until midnight on 7 March 2027 to submit a qualifying race. Half Marathon runners have until midnight on 28 February 2027 to submit an official seeding time.

And there will be no sprint down the admin straight after the chequered flag.

Ultra hopefuls must complete an official qualifying race between 1 May 2026 and 7 March 2027.

Totalsports TWO OCEANS HALF MARATHON powered by BYD PHOTO CREDIT Chris Hitchcock

A standard 42.2km marathon must be completed in under five hours, while longer races must satisfy the applicable Two Oceans qualifying standard.

The race must be officially measured and timed, with the distance meeting Athletics South Africa and World Athletics measurement standards.

In other words, runners cannot rely on a GPS watch having a bad day or a race organiser’s creative approach to kilometres.

For Half Marathon runners, the magic numbers are 10km, 15km and 21.1km. An official time from one of those distances must be submitted by 28 February 2027 to ensure correct seeding.

Chris Goldschmidt, Chairperson of the Two Oceans Marathon NPC, urged runners to get their ducks in a row.

“Race Day is the culmination of months of preparation, and we want to make sure that runners have all the information they need to prepare with confidence,” he said.

Wade Bromfield, Event Director, was equally clear: “Please don’t leave it until the last minute.”

The 2027 running festival kicks off with the 8km Night Run on 31 March, followed by the 4.5km International Friendship Run on 1 April and Trail Run on 2 April.

Totalsports TWO OCEANS HALF MARATHON powered by BYD PHOTO CREDIT Chris Hitchcock

The Half Marathon fires on 3 April, followed by the big one, the 56km Ultra, on 4 April, both finishing at the UCT Rugby Fields.

So runners, lace up, check the diary and get moving.

Because on this particular race, the first finish line is paperwork.

Miss it, and the mountain may never get the chance to break you.

The deadline could do it first.

Miss the date, Miss the start!

Official submissions are made through the Totalsports TWO OCEANS MARATHON website.

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

Adnaan MohamedNews, PreviewLeave a Comment on Hollywood Athletics Club stars headline Gun Run
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.

Joburg 10K set for Heritage Day takeover

Adnaan MohamedEvent Update!, Features, News, PreviewLeave a Comment on Joburg 10K set for Heritage Day takeover
By Adnaan Mohamed

Thousands of runners will storm the streets of the City of Gold on Thursday, 24 September, turning Heritage Day into a spectacular Joburg 10km takeover.

The sold-out Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K will unleash a stampede of running shoes onto Lilian Ngoyi Street from 08:00, with the M1 and M2 highways transformed into a giant sporting playground before the finish on Rahima Moosa Street.

For one morning, Joburg’s legendary hustle will have a new soundtrack: thousands of pounding feet, screaming spectators, pumping music and the thunder of a city celebrating its heritage.

Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K by Tobias Ginsberg

This is road running with a Mzansi twist.

The route will be crammed with entertainment, cheer zones and sponsor activations from Absa, PUMA, Powerade, AVIS and Heineken, creating a colourful carnival designed to showcase the diversity, history and unmistakable swagger of Johannesburg.

Stillwater Sports managing director and Series founder Michael Meyer says the race will offer runners a different view of the metropolis.

“We’re excited to bring thousands of runners together in Johannesburg on National Heritage Day for what promises to be a fantastic celebration of running, culture and community.”

Meyer says the energy of the route, entertainment and spectators will create an atmosphere that is uniquely Joburg.

Absa Head of Sponsorship Jabulile Nsibanyoni says the event will turn the streets into a moving celebration of South African identity.

“At Absa, we are passionate about creating memorable experiences that bring communities together, and this event is a true reflection of that commitment.”

She says the entertainment has been carefully curated to celebrate Joburg’s rich heritage and cultural traditions.

“Both participants and spectators can look forward to a dynamic showcase of performances reflecting the warmth, diversity, and energy Joburg is known for.”

Then comes the speed trap.

Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K by Charles Ndou

PUMA Run Train Marketing Manager Rae Trew-Browne says the Heritage Day edition has a personality of its own.

“Every Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series event has its own personality, and Joburg’s Heritage Day edition promises to be particularly special.”

The PUMA Speed Zone will add another turbocharged dimension to the race.

“It’s a chance for every participant to embrace their own version of TOO FAST while enjoying the incredible atmosphere that makes the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series so special,” says Trew-Browne.

The stakes are already high after a sizzling 2026 series.

Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K by Charles Ndou

Adriaan Wildschutt won Gqeberha in 27:47, Joshua Cheptegei blitzed Durban in 27:19 and Salem Kibet conquered Tshwane in 28:45. Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir won Gqeberha in 30:15, while Doreen Cherop claimed victories in Durban and Tshwane in 30:43 and 31:35 respectively.

Cape Town’s 10K was cancelled because of a severe weather forecast.

Now Joburg gets the spotlight.

And on Heritage Day, the City of Gold will not be walking.

IT WILL BE RUNNING!

For further information please visit https://runyourcityseries.com/

Cash dash at Boxer Super Run 5km Series

Adnaan MohamedBoxer Super Run, NewsLeave a Comment on Cash dash at Boxer Super Run 5km Series
By Adnaan Mohamed

The runners are coming for the money! Forget the Sunday stroll. Forget the gentle jog. When the gun goes bang at the Boxer Super Run, the streets will become a five-kilometre cash battlefield, with R294 400 waiting to be snatched in Durban and Johannesburg.

That is a serious carrot for athletes prepared to run like their takkies are on fire. Each city carries a R147 200 prize purse, with the fastest elite man and woman pocketing R20 000 apiece.

And the stampede is already guaranteed. Both events are SOLD OUT.

The Boxer Super Run brings its turbocharged 5km circus to Durban on Sunday, 18 October, before rolling into Johannesburg on Sunday, 15 November.

For the elite runners, this is where the smiles stop and the stopwatch starts talking.

“The 5km is one of the most exciting distances in road running because it demands a unique combination of speed, endurance and race strategy,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports.

“For elite athletes, every second counts, making for an incredibly competitive and compelling race.”

Every second will indeed be worth its weight in gold.

The R147 200 purse in each city will be spread across the Elite and Open Wave categories, with the top eight men and women in the Elite Race earning prize money.

The Open Wave has its own pot of temptation, with the top three men and women in every age category, from Junior to 70+, eligible for prize money.

Meyer says the event is helping put short-distance road running firmly in the spotlight.

“The Boxer Super Run continues to elevate the profile of short-distance road running by creating meaningful opportunities for athletes to compete, perform and be recognised for their achievements.”

Lee-Ann Pillay, Head of Marketing at Boxer Superstores, says the money is about rewarding grit, talent and determination.

“By offering an impressive prize purse of R147 200 in each city, we’re proud to recognise the dedication, determination and talent of South Africa’s elite athletes,” says Pillay.

“We hope this added incentive inspires athletes to push themselves and give their best on race day.”

Then there is the carnival.

The Super Social Wave will unleash costumed runners, groups, companies and charities onto the roads between 08:00 and 09:30, bringing enough colour and craziness to make the average running club look like a bunch of undercover accountants.

Pillay wants them to stay for the main event.

“We encourage our Open and Super Social Wave runners to stick around after their own race, get behind the elites and soak up the excitement as they battle it out on the streets of Durban and Johannesburg.”

“It’s a great opportunity to witness world-class racing up close and be part of the atmosphere.”

Durban’s elite women go at 09:45, followed by the men at 10:00. Joburg follows the same schedule, with its 1km Kids Race at 10:30.

The runners get the performance T-shirt, goodie bag, timing chip, on-route experience and finisher’s medal.

The elite stars get something sweeter.

R20 000.

Five kilometres.

One furious dash.

And enough cash to make every painful stride count.

Ready, steady, CASH!

Tayla Kavanagh falls, rises to Hollywood Durban 10km victory

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Tayla Kavanagh falls, rises to Hollywood Durban 10km victory
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.

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