Running News Daily

Kenyans outsprint locals and the rest in yet another Absa Run Your City race

Kenya’s Vincent Langat and Diana Chepkorir made it two wins in as many Absa Run Your City Cape Town 10K Series starts when they crossed the finish line first in the men’s and women’s races, respectively, in Sunday’s race in the Mother City.

Just five weeks after winning the Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, leg of the popular 10km race, Langat produced his first sub-28-minute clocking on South African soil when he won the Cape Town contest in 27:52.

Said Langat after the race:

I was excited when I made my move with 1km to go. This was my best win. Elroy is a strong guy. I like him and I appreciate the competition. I will now go and prepare for the Olympics in the 10 000m.

South Africa’s Elroy Gelant grabbed the second spot.

The two-time Olympian stopped the clock at 27:55, while Francis Abongo ran a personal best of 28:16 to claim third place in his first official 10km road race outside his native Kenya.

With three personal bests over 10km, 21km and 42km over the last nine months, 37-year-old Gelant says he feels more confident than ever. He had wanted to attack Precious Mashele’s 27:35 national record, even though the wind had other ideas.

He walked away with R85 000 in prize money—R25 000 for second place and R60 000 for breaking 28 minutes.

Said Gelant:

The wind was a factor. I just told myself, like a skipper who’s on a boat when there’s wind, you just need to change your sails, so I just changed by angle of running. But I knew that I would run well. I set my watch to SA record. I didn’t get there, but I’m still happy with the race.

Meanwhile, Chepkorir emulated her compatriot with her second victory in a row.

She clocked 31:47 to win in Cape Town after her victory at the Gqeberha race early in April.

Lesotho’s Neheng Khathala was the runner-up in 32:16, while Getenesh Sase Agafew of Ethiopia came in third in 32:48.

Kenyan Vincent Langat back to run Absa Run Your City Cape Town 10K

Having come out of left field to win the season opening Absa Run Your City Gqeberha 10k in April, Vincent Langat is looking to make it two out of two in the popular 10km series.

The Kenyan will line up for the Absa Run Your City Cape Town 10K on May 12 looking to once again pull the rug from underneath the local stars’ feet just as he did in Gqeberha. Unheralded and not even included in the pre-race elite runners’ media conference as he was to run his maiden race out of Kenya, Langat ran a Personal Best (PB) time of 28:01 to leave all of Elroy Gelant, Precious Mashele and Thabang Mosiako in his wake.

He showed that he is a top class runner just this past weekend when he bettered that mark to 27:11 which earned him fifth place at the Adizero Road to Records in Germany. Langat now has his sights set on reigning supreme in Cape Town on Mothers’ Day.

“I have been well. I just went on with training without any problems. It was very nice to cross the finish line as the first finisher,” he said in reference to his victory in Gqeberha “I (had) hoped for a faster time, but the circumstances didn’t allow it. I want to win another race in South Africa! And try to better my PB.”

But Langat will not have it his way, especially now that the South African runners are aware of him. Both Mashele and Gelant are likely to want to gain revenge on the Kenyan and with the legendary Stephen Mokoka in the mix too, it will take something special for Langat to be victorious again.

Another South African keen to do well next weekend is Kabelo Mulaudzi who had a breakthrough 2023 in the Absa series.

The youngster sat out the Gqeberha race doe to injury but has since healed and is excitedly looking forward to Cape Town.

“I’ve recovered from the injury and have been training well,” he said “I’m just focusing on my race because I know it’s not going to be an easy one. I’m racing against the best in the country, the likes of Precious Mashele, Stephen Mokoka and Elroy Gelant. But for now, I’m focusing on my race. If I can get a top five or top three podium position, I would be happy. I’m looking forward to giving my best.”

Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder is thrilled that Langat is back for the second of the five-legs series: “His return adds an extra level of excitement, highlighting the competitive spirit of the Series. It's fantastic to see South Africa's elite athletes like Kabelo Mulaudzi and Precious Mashele going head-to-head with international athletes of Langat's calibre. We can’t wait to witness this thrilling competition at the Absa Run Your City Cape Town 10K."