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Multiple World Record Holder, Genzebe Dibaba returns to SA this time for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K

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Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba, the holder of four world records and two world bests, will be seen in action at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday 10 July 2022. Photo: Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series

One of the best female athletes in the world, the holder of four world records and two world bests, Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba has announced that she will run in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday 10 July 2022.

After finishing third at the first event of the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, Event Organiser, Stillwater Sports, has confirmed that Dibaba will be back to again attempt a world class 10km time, when she takes on the second event in the series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K. She will join thousands of other runners as they #RunForDurban to raise money for people severely affected by the recent floods in KZN.

“Having Genzebe Dibaba race in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K is a massive privilege and confirms that we are serious about bringing the best in the world to South Africa to race against SA’s finest on home soil,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series. “Our goal is to give South Africans world class competition and the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is doing just that. That Dibaba comes here to race shows that we are on the right track to achieving this objective. The cherry on top is that, although an athlete like Dibaba is in demand worldwide, she has expressed a strong desire to run in Durban to again experience a world class event on African soil.”

“I have unfinished business, as I came here to win and run a fast time, so I will be back,” were the words of Dibaba after her third-place finish at the Cape Town event earlier this year. Dibaba crossed the line in 31:02, the third fastest time ever run in South Africa by a female athlete. Now she has her sights set on returning to South Africa to race in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on 10 July – and is eager to break the SA All Comers record of 30:40 set by Stella Chesang in the Cape Town leg of the series on 15 May 2022.

Genzebe Dibaba is arguably the best athlete to set foot on South African soil and her appearance at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K was a massive coup for race organiser, Stillwater Sports.

Dibaba, although running a superb 31:02 in Cape Town felt she could have gone faster in her 10km debut on the road and is eager to see just how much faster she can go come 10 July. “I made some mistakes and it cost me in Cape Town,” said Dibaba. “But this was only my first ever 10km and only my third road race, so I am still learning how to race on the roads. It is very different to the track.”

And it is on the track, in particular on the bouncy curves of the indoor circuit, that Dibaba was so dominant with four gold medals at the World Indoor Championships in the 1500m and the 3000m to go with the World Indoor Records in the mile, 3000m and 5000m. Dibaba still holds the 1500m World Record outdoors and the fastest ever times over the 2000m (5:23.75) and 2miles (9:00.48) indoors.

The two excursions on the road prior to her visit to Cape Town on 15 May, were over 5km in Carlsbad in 2015 where she clocked 14:48 to win (18th on the World All Time List), and 65:18 in the Valencia Half Marathon, also for a victory. The Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K will be the fourth time that she sets foot on the roads and with the fast and flat course designed for the Durban leg of the race, expect an onslaught on the 30:40 SA All Comers Record set Stella Chesang of Uganda.

“I want to go better than Cape Town and improve the time set by Stella (Chesang). I know the route is geared for fast times and that conditions in Durban at that time of the year are near perfect, so I am excited to return to South Africa and run fast,” said Dibaba.

The 31-year-old Ethiopian has been in hard training in Addis Ababa (2300m altitude) for specifically the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K and all indications is that she is approaching form that rivals the best of her career. That Dibaba has the speed is without question, her numerous World Records are proof enough. With her new focus on the roads, expect more records to be under threat and first and foremost will be the 30:40 SA All Comers Record.

Genzebe Dibaba World Records:

1500m 3:50.07 Monaco, 2015

Indoors:
Mile 4:13.31 Stockholm, 2016
3000m 8:16.60 Stockholm, 2014
5000m 14:18.86 Stockholm, 2015

World Bests:
Indoors:
2000m: 5:23.75 Sabadell (ESP), 2017
2miles: 9:00.48 Birmingham, 2014

Genzebe Dibaba Medals:

Olympics Silver 1500m, Rio De Janeiro 2016
World Championships Gold 1500m, Beijing 2015
World Indoor Championships Gold 1500m Istanbul 2012/Birmingham 2018
Gold 3000m Sopot 2104/Portland 2016/Birmingham 2018
Continental Cup Gold 3000m Marrakech 2014
Diamond League Winner 5000m 2015
World Junior Championships Gold 5000m Moncton 2010
Silver 5000m Bydgoszcz 2008

World Cross Country Championships Gold Junior Race 2008 Edinburgh
Gold Junior Team 2008 Edinburgh
Gold Junior Race 2009 Amman
Gold Junior Team 2009 Amman
Silver Junior Team Bydgoszcz 2008
Silver Senior Team Punta Umbria 2011
Silver Mixed Relay Kampala 2017
Bronze Junior Team Mombasa 2007

PB’s
800m 1:59.37 Doha 2017
1500m 3:50.07 Monaco 2015 (WR, AR, NR)
One Mile 4:14.30 Roverto 2016
2000m 5:27.50 Ostrava 2014
3000m 8:21.29 Stanford 2019
5000m 14:51.41 Paris 2015
5km 14:48 Carlsbad 2015
10km 31:02 Cape Town 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K
Half Marathon 65:18 Valencia 2020

EVENT INFORMATION: Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K

Date: Sunday 10 July 2022

Entry Fee:
Standard (Licensed): R235.00
Gold Package (Licensed): R900.00
Temporary Licence: R50.00

Entries Open: Tuesday 08 March 2022
Entries Close: Monday 04 July 2022

Charity Support: When entering the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K online entrants can choose to support five local
charities: 1. LIV Village, 2. TREE (Training and Resources in Early Education), 3. Durban & Coast SPCA, 4. iThemba Lethu and
5. Reach For A Dream Foundation (RFAD).

WIN a Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Urban at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K: All runners (and walkers) that enter the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K will stand a chance to win a stunning Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Urban vehicle on event day. To be in the running to win the vehicle you must enter the event, collect your race number and be on the start line.

#RunForDurban Campaign: Durban has been hard hit not only by the pandemic, but by riots and now severe flooding. Headline partners, Absa, PUMA, DHL, as well as the event itself have each committed to giving back R1 for every 1km run and/or walked at the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday 10 July. Just by entering the Durban event, each runner and/or walker will ensure that R40 is donated towards those that have been affected by the floods. The funds raised will be used to purchase non-perishable food items, shoes, clothing and blankets.
Exciting Time-Based Incentive Scheme: Stillwater Sports, the organisers of Africa’s leading road running series, the
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, have announced an exciting time-based incentive scheme that will reward SA’s elite runners on
a sliding-scale at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday 10 July 2022. To view the complete SA Elite Athlete Incentive breakdown, please visit https://bit.ly/2022D10KEliteAthleteIncentives

2022 Prize Purse Breakdown: To view the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K Prize Purse breakdown, visit https://bit.ly/2022RYCPrizePurseBreakdown

Facebook: @Durban10k
Instagram: @Durban10k
Hashtag: #RunForDurban #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
Websites: www.durban10k.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 three unique events namely the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K (launched in 2015), the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K (launched in 2017) 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.