Jacky

Multiple South African record holder, Adriaan Wildschutt, delivered a phenomenal performance on Sunday, 13 April 2025, clocking an extraordinary 27:28 to win the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K and set a new South African 10km road record. Wildschutt, who was making his Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES debut, lived up to his pre-race favourite tag as he eclipsed the previous record mark of 27:35 which had been set by Precious Mashele during the 2023 edition of the race in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. "It feels good (to break the record). It would have been such a pity to come all the way from the US and miss it by a few seconds. I wanted to run 13:30 or 13:35 in the first half and we were way off. I knew it was going to be hard since the wind was there. Overall, I'm happy I managed to pull it off, " said an elated Wildschutt reflecting on what was only the second road race of his glittering career. This performance in ‘The Friendly City’ means that the 26-year-old who was tenth in the 10 000m final at last year’s Olympic Games in Paris, adds yet another national record to his growing collection which already includes the 3 000m, 5 000m and 10 000m SA records. Wildschutt says setting today’s record was probably the toughest of them all. “I think this one is pretty hard considering I ran sub-27 minutes two weeks ago and it takes long to recover. Plus, there is the traveling in between and training in Potchefstroom,” he explained. In the end three men broke 28 minutes as Wildschutt was followed home by Kenya’s Vincent Kipkorir who ran a personal best 27:47 while South Africa’s Kabelo Mulaudzi rounded out the top three with his time of 27:57 - the third sub-28-minute 10km clocking of his career. In the women’s race, Kenya’s Jane Gati Chacha made a sensational 10km debut, crossing the line in an impressive 31:45. She was closely followed by Ethiopia’s Selam Gebre, who finished in 31:50. South Africa’s Glenrose Xaba put in a strong performance to claim …

It's that time of year again when Gqeberha residents come together for a vibrant Inner-City Clean-Up in preparation for the much anticipated Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K. Open to everyone eager to make a difference, the clean-up will take place on Saturday, 12 April 2025, from 08:30 to 10:00, starting at the Absa Branch on Govan Mbeki Avenue (Port Elizabeth Central, Gqeberha). This initiative sets the tone for an unforgettable race day on Sunday, 13 April. “The Inner-City Clean-Up is an opportunity to contribute to a cleaner city while fostering a strong sense of community pride,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “It’s a fantastic way for residents to come together and ensure that the ‘Friendly City’ is race-ready for the action-packed 2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K.” The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES will provide refuse bags and gloves, ensuring all collected waste is properly disposed of. “Your participation not only benefits the environment but also helps make Gqeberha a more sustainable city,” Meyer adds. “As a token of appreciation, Absa will treat volunteers to delicious breakfast packs and refreshing beverages after the clean-up.” Single Use Plastic (SUP) Management Campaign: The Gqeberha Inner-City Clean-Up aligns seamlessly with the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES’ SUP Management Campaign, which targets an 85% reduction in single-use plastics across all five events. With sustainability at the heart of the series, Meyer highlights the event’s commitment to an eco-friendly race experience: “Designated ‘litter zones’ will be set up along the route to keep the city waste-free. We also encourage runners to support #ICarryMyOwn by bringing reusable water bottles, which can be refilled at hydration stations along the course.” “We’re excited to return to Gqeberha and can’t wait to #RunYourCity alongside thousands of passionate runners,” Meyer concludes. “As part of our ‘Force for Good’ initiative, …

As one of only two athletes to secure a top ten finish in all five Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES races in a single season, Chris Mhlanga emerged as one of 2024’s standout 10km stars. With the first race of the 2025 series now less than two weeks away, the Boxer Athletics Club top runner has been training diligently and is ready to elevate his performance when he takes to the start line at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday, 13 April. “I haven’t done too badly for the first race of the year and I also came second in the Motsepe race which are good results,” said Mhlanga reflecting on two consecutive runner-up finishes in the 5000m at the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Track & Field Championships and the Motsepe Foundation Race to Gender Equality 10km event hosted two weeks ago. Those events, held on 14 and 16 March respectively, served as crucial preparation for Mhlanga ahead of the fast Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K course, which produced the SA Men’s 10km record in 2023. Now a consistent top-five finisher in major 10km races across the country, the 23-year-old - who set a lifetime best of 28:24 at the record-breaking Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K last July - credits his coach, Hendrick Ramaala, and his training partners, including national 10km record holder Precious Mashele, for helping him elevate his performances. “The training and motivation I get from the people I train with was the thing. I always look up to them. Just to be there and have that race fitness keeps me motivated,” explained the athlete who represented South Africa at the World University Games and claimed the runner-up position at last year’s Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on Heritage Day. Mhlanga whose five consecutive top ten 2024 Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES finishes are second only to Elroy Gelant’s five top five finishes last season, believes it’s time for him to produce his maiden 27 minute 10km clocking. “I’m going to run the 3000m at the Cape Milers which is a week …

Having already clocked two sub-28-minute 10km performances, Kabelo Mulaudzi has proven his mastery of the 27-minute mark. However, both of these impressive runs came at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K. Now, Mulaudzi is determined to break the sub-28 barrier for the first time in ‘The Friendly City’ as he sets his sights on a maiden podium finish at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday, 13 April 2025. “I’m always grateful whenever I receive an invitation to run the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES,” says Mulaudzi. “The incentives they offer motivate me to compete in every one of their races, with my goal always being a podium finish. So my plan for Gqeberha is to run a personal best (PB) and go sub-28 minutes. If I can do that, I’ll be happy.” The Boxer Athletics Club (AC) top runner is rightly confident as he heads to the opening Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES race of 2025 in excellent form. The 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K champion who earned three Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES podium positions in 2024, ran 14:06.95 to claim the 5000m gold medal ahead of Boxer AC teammate Chris Mhlanga (14:14.05) at the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Championships on Friday 14 March. Less than 48 hours later Mulaudzi got the better of Mhlanga again to win the Motsepe Foundation’s Race to Gender Equality 10km in 30:33 on a hilly course in Johannesburg. Finding himself injury free after a good training block, Mulaudzi believes that he is in shape to challenge his 27:53 lifetime best in what will be his Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K debut. “My training is going well this year since I have been joined by Andries Sesedi,” points out Mulaudzi. “Because I am no longer training alone where I have to push by myself, it is easier. My target was to run sub 14:10 at the CGA Champs, which would be a good indicator of my fitness. I usually run sub-28 in Durban, but this year my aim is to run my first 27 minutes 10km in Gqeberha - my first big race of the year.” Also eyeing a …

South Africa’s 10km national record holder, Glenrose Xaba—who set the mark at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in 2024—reinforced her dominance as the country’s leading female long-distance runner with a commanding performance over the weekend (14–15 March). Also the national marathon record holder (2:22:22), Xaba secured an impressive distance double at the Athletics Gauteng North Championships, sending a strong signal of her form just one month before lining up for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday, 13 April 2025. Xaba clocked 31:56.65 to win the 10 000m on Friday, 14 March and followed that up with victory over 5000m in 15:20.00 the following day. Although she had been expected to win both events comfortably, the Boxer Athletics Club top runner nevertheless gave it everything as she produced the second fastest 10 000m time of her career. “It was okay. It helped me to see how far my progress is in terms of my training and fitness,” Xaba explained when asked about her solo run against the clock. “I wanted to challenge myself by running against the time and I feel blessed to be injury free.” Having proven her readiness with a dominant win over a challenging 10km course at the Motsepe Foundation Race for Gender Equality on Sunday, 16 March, Xaba has set the stage for her next big test. Xaba now turns her attentions to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES. Armed with the 31:12 national 10km record run at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K last July, her entire team led by coaches Violet and Caster Semenya, is confident of a good showing in ‘The Friendly City’. “The course is fair enough. All we wish for is good weather on the day of the race. I don't want to put pressure on myself. My first target is to run an injury free and smooth race and then time will come by itself. I am going to run my own race and stay focused,” confirms Xaba. Also looking eagerly ahead to his first Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES race of 2025 is Nadeel Wildschutt. The holder of …