Rivalry renewed as Mashele and Mokoka prepare for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K

Boxer Athletics Club teammates, Precious Mashele and Stephen Mokoka, will once again go head-to-head at the highly anticipated Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday, July 9, 2023.

Mashele broke the 8-year-old SA 10km record of his friend and rival at the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 2 April, taking 3 seconds off the mark Mokoka had set in 2015 when he crossed the line in 27:35.

Mokoka has repeatedly said he is looking for a sub 28 on South African soil and now that Mashele, Thabang Mosiako (27:52) and Maxine Chaumeton (27:58) have all done just that in South Africa, Mokoka is hungry to emulate that feat. To date the quartet have all only broken the 28 minute barrier once in their careers. The Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on 9 July could well see both Mashele and Mokoka make it twice in their careers.

“I know I can go faster”, says Mashele, “I was running well in Gqeberha and know I can do better. I want to break the record again.”

“After finishing third at the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon and running 60:54 I told my coach that 10km is now too short for me and he said that we need to rectify that and do it in Durban,” says Mokoka setting the race up for a display of fireworks.

Mashele now heads the SA All Time rankings in the 10km with his 27:35 run in Gqeberha. Mokoka is second with the previous SA Record of 27:38 run in Manchester in 2015. Third on the list is Shadrack Hoff (27:50 – 2002), while Thabang Mosiako is 4th after his 34 second PB in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K where he clocked 27:52 and Maxime Chaumeton rounds out the top five after running 27:58 in 2022 at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K.

“To see how the men’s 10km has improved over the recent years and to know that the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series played a significant role in the process is really rewarding,” says Stillwater Sports Managing Director and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, Michael Meyer. “In the last 12 months we have seen three South Africans go under 28 minutes, including the new SA Record of Precious Mashele at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series. It shows that we are on the right track and that South African road running is seeing a huge resurgence.”

EVENT INFORMATION: 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K

Date: Sunday 09 July 2023
Start Time: 08:00
Start Venue: Masabalala Yengwa Ave
Finish Venue: Durban Beach Front Promenade (Golden Mile)
Entry Fee:
• Licenced Runner: R240.00
• Temporary Licence: R50.00
Entry Includes:
• Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Event Performance T-shirt
• Absa Entrant Gifts (Peak Cap, Drawstring Bag, Socks & Shoelaces)
• DHL Water Bottle
• Race Number with Timing Chip
• Sponsor Route Entertainment Points
• Amazing Route Entertainment Points from Start to Finish
• 2 x Refreshment Stations on Route
• Tog Bag Drop and Collect Service
• Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Finisher’s Medal

PRIZE PURSE: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series boasts an impressive, combined Prize Purse of R 1 560 000.00 in 2023. Each of the five events will be assigned R312 000.00 in prize money of which R252 000.00 will be allocated towards the Open Category (R126 000.00 going to Top 10 Open Men’s and R126 000.00 to Top 10 Open Women’s), and R60 000 towards Age Categories (Junior, 40 – 49, 50 – 59, 60 – 69 and 70+ Age Categories). To view the prize purse breakdown please visit https://runyourcityseries.com/

CHARITY SUPPORT: When entering the 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K online runners and walkers can make a difference by supporting five local charities: 1. Reach For A Dream Foundation (RFAD), 2. Durban & Coast SPCA, 3. TREE (Training and Resources in Early Education), 4. LIV Village and 5. iThemba Lethu.

WIN A CHERY TIGGO 4 PRO URBAN VEHICLE: One lucky entrant will go home with a stylish Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Urban Vehicle valued at over R308 900.00 compliments of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series and event partners Chery South Africa and Absa Vehicle and Asset Finance. To be in the running to win this fantastic prize the following three boxes need to be ticked: you need to enter the event (and pay the entry fee), collect your race number (during the stipulated race pack collection times) and be on the start line on event day.

Facebook: @Durban10k
Instagram: @Durban10k
Hashtag: #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
Websites: www.runyourcityseries.com

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