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Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K boasts an impressive local and international field!

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The inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K will start at 07:00 at the Kings Beach Precinct on Sunday 02 April 2023. Event organisers could not wish for a better start to the series as the country’s best will line up against a deep international field in what is sure to be a race that will set the benchmark for the rest of the series.

“Gqeberha is a fresh and exciting addition to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series,” said Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Series. “Runners will be treated to a fantastic on route experience that highlights iconic city landmarks, includes magnificent views, and features lively performances from some of the city’s leading performing arts groups. We will also get to witness a world class elite race on home soil. This is fantastic both for the athletes and spectators alike. Together with the City, EPA, Title Sponsor, Absa and key sponsors such as PUMA, DHL, Chery, Garmin and Woolworths to mention just a few, we can’t wait to celebrate the event’s debut on Sunday.”

As has come to be expected in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series at the coast, the route is a fast one and with the line up assembled, running fans can expect nothing short of yet another world class performance.

Back is Kenya’s Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, the Commonwealth Games 10 000m silver medallist. Ebenyo is no stranger to the Series after winning the then Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 12K in 2021 and the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K in 2022, the latter in a blistering 27:34. The Kenyan boasts a 10km best time of 26:58 run in Valencia in 2022. He is in the mood for a fast time.

“A world leading time would be great,” said Ebenyo. Should he set a new world leading time then it will eclipse the 26:33 run by Berihu Aregawi. That time is also the second fastest ever run behind the world record of Rhonex Kipruto (26:24 – 2020) and will firmly place the race and the series on the global map.

Joining him will be Uganda’s Isaac Kibet who boasts a 27:41 10km best time and has run 28:03 at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in 2022. Ebenyo’s training partner, Asbel Rutto who ran 27:55 in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in 2022 is looking to go better this time round. The trio will face South Africa’s finest in Elroy Gelant (SA 5000m record holder), Precious Mashele, Stephen Mokoka (SA 10km and Half Marathon record holder) and local favourite, Melikhaya Frans.

“I will go with the front bunch,” said Frans. “I’ve trained hard and am in good shape and want to give the home crowd a good showing”.

“I’m in better shape than I have been for a long time,” says Elroy Gelant. “With the international competition and the likes of Stephen, Precious and Meli (Melikhaya Frans), we know this will be a fast race. I am excited.”

“You always know that the race will be fast in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series,” says Stephen Mokoka. “It is why we always come back. I will as always run to challenge the front guys.”

“I want to run a low 28min or faster,” says Precious Mashele. “With these guys we know it will be fast and, on the cards,”.

The women’s race will be no less exciting. Lesotho’s multiple National Record Holder, Neheng Khatala has confirmed that she’ll be taking part in the entire series and is looking to start the series with a bang.

“The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series always brings fast athletes and that helps to push me to run better, so I am excited to race in Gqeberha on 2 April,” says Khatala who boasts a best of 32:06 for the 10k. She could well dip under the 32min mark come 2 April. She will line up against Kenya’s Diana Chesang who ran 31:55 at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in 2022.

Newly crowned SA 10 000m champion, Glenrose Xaba will also toe the line in the hopes of further closing the gap on the international women. “I am looking forward to running a good time,” said Xaba who boasts a 10km best of 32:45.

With such a spectacular line up, the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K is bound to deliver fireworks and the thousands who have entered will also be treated to a running experience second to none with numerous entertainment and vibe points along the 10km route.

EVENT INFORMATION: Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K

DATE: Sunday 02 April 2023
START & FINISH VENUE: Kings Beach Precinct
START TIME: 07:00
ENTRY FEE:
1. Standard Entry: Licenced Runners R240.00
• Temp Licence: R20.00

Standard Entry Includes:
• Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Event Performance T-shirt
• Absa Entrant Gifts
• DHL Water Bottle
• Race Number with Timing Chip
• Sponsor Route Entertainment Points
• Route Entertainment Points
• 2 x Refreshment Stations on Route
• Tog Bag Drop and Collect Service
• Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Finisher’s Medal

2. Gold Package: R1200.00

Gold Package Includes:
• Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Event Performance T-shirt
• Absa Entrant Gifts
• DHL Water Bottle
• Exclusive Gold Package Gifts
• Race Number with Timing Chip
• Access to Pre-race VIP Area (incl. refreshments)
• Preferential Start Seeding
• Sponsor Route Entertainment Points
• Route Entertainment Points
• 2 x Refreshment Stations on Route
• Tog Bag Drop and Collect Service
• Access to Post-race VIP Area (incl. refreshments, massage, ablution facilities)
• Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Finisher’s Medal

RACE PACK COLLECTION:

GOOD NEWS Runners can still enter at Race Pack Collection.

Venue: The Boardwalk (Marine Drive, Summerstrand)
Date: Saturday 01 April 2023
Time: 09:00 – 14:00

Facebook: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Instagram: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Hashtag: #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
Websites: www.runyourcityseries.com

About Absa
Absa Group is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups.
Absa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and insurance.
Absa operates in fourteen countries. The Group owns majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Absa Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia and has insurance operations in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia. Absa also has representative offices in Namibia and Nigeria, and securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States.
For further information about Absa Group Limited, please visit www.absa.africa

About the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
A proudly South African mass participation road running series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has been revolutionizing the sport since 2015. A road running celebration like no other, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series comprises five unique events namely the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K (launched in 2023), Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K (launched in 2015), the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K (launched in 2017), Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K (launched in 2023) and the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K (launched in 2016).
A diverse road running series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series integrates businesses, families, investment in community, world class achievement and fun for all participants.
For further information please visit https://runyourcityseries.com/

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.