The South African runners in the 10km distance, Stephen Mokoka and Kabelo Mulaudzi, are eager to compete again with the Ugandan runner, Joshua Cheptegei, in the Absa Run Your City Durban 10km race, which will be run on Sunday at 7 am in Durban.
This is the third leg of this race. The first one was run in Gqeberha in March, Adriaan Wildschutt won with a time of 27:47. For women, Brenda Jephchirchir from Kenya won with a time of 30:15.
The second leg of this race, which was supposed to be run in Cape Town in May, failed due to bad weather.
Wildschutt from Ceres, Western Cape, who runs for Hoka NAZ Elite in the USA, holds the Absa Run Your City 10km record of 27:28 which he recorded in April last year, in Gqeberha.
In this Sunday’s race, Mokoka of Hollywood Athletics Club and Mulaudzi of Boxer Running Club, will face Cheptegei after eight years.
In 2018, Cheptegei defeated Mokoka and Mulaudzi in this race winning the race with a time of 27:16. Mokoka finished sixth in 28:18, Mulaudzi finished in 13th place in 29:17.
“That race (of 2018) was at a high level because of his presence. It was the first time that a runner has done less than 28 minutes in this race in South Africa.
We also saw more European records, broken in this race. So I’m really looking forward to running with him again in this race,” said Mokoka, who has held the South African 10km record.
“It is a unique opportunity for runners who are still developing to compete with one of the best runners, who has been a champion (of 10,000m) in the Olympic Games twice. I believe that young runners will not be afraid to challenge him.”
Mulaudzi, who has won Run Your City six times since 2018, thanks this race for giving him the opportunity to run world-class races.
“My invitation to the Great Manchester Run was due to my good performance in the Absa Run Your City Series. I always enjoy competing with runners who are better than me. That’s why I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to compete with Joshua again in this tournament. I believe that my competition will be a motivation for me to improve my time of 27:41 that I set at the Absa Run Your City Durban 10km in 2025,” said Mulaudzi.
Mulaudzi comes to this Sunday’s race, full of confidence since last year he made a spectacle by winning four legs.
The fourth leg will be held on August 23, in Pretoria, while the fifth – to close the year – will be held on September 24, in Johannesburg.
